Why Stephen Jackson apologized to Reggie Miller for Malice at the Palace
The " All the Smoke" podcast is usually a place for NBA players to tell hilarious stories with hosts Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes.
Things got emotional when Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller came in for a chat.
Jackson, an Indiana Pacer from 2004-07, apologized for the infamous " Malice in the Palace" early in the 2004-05 season.
What is the Malice at the Palace?
In the closing minute of a Pacers win at Detroit (which played in the Palace of Auburn Hills at the time), Indiana's Ron Artest (now Metta World Peace) fouled the Pistons' Ben Wallace, who charged after Artest.
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Wallace remained infuriated as the game officials tried to restore order. Artest ended up laying on the scorer's table. A fan threw a beer cup that struck Artest in the chest, and he charged into the stands to confront who he thought was the offender.
Other Pacers teammates went into the stands, too, and Jackson swung wildly at some fans. Other fans came onto the court to challenge Pacers players, and Jermaine O'Neal slipped while throwing a punch at one of them. The Pacers won the game, which didn't resume.
However, the aftermath devastated the Pacers. A team with NBA championship aspirations lost several players for extended periods. Artest was suspended for the rest of the season; Jackson was out 30 games, and O'Neal 25 (later dropped to 15).
The blow up eventually became the subject of a Netflix documentary.
Indiana finished 44-38 in Miller's final season, winning one playoff series before losing to the Pistons in the second round.
Stephen Jackson apologizes to Reggie Miller
Jackson felt he needed to apologize.
"I never had a chance to tell you that I'm sorry," Jackson started. "We all understood what our motivation was for that season. It wasn't for us. It was for you. The whole motivation was to get things done the right way and getting a championship for you.
"I love you even more because you defended me because you knew that I was just being a loyal teammate."
Miller started to tear up.
"I told you I didn't want to go there, man," Miller said. "You don't need to say that to me. Come on, man."
Today's Pacers: Technicals, flagrants and plenty of trash talk between Pacers and Bucks
Miller said he appreciated the team's youthful enthusiam, featuring Jamaal Tinsley, O'Neal, Al Harrington, Jackson and Artest.
"Those last years in Indiana (were my best years)," Miller said. "I didn't have my superpowers, but I felt ... and you guys made me ... feel like I was Superman."
Miller played on one NBA Finals team, in 2000, and the Pacers took the 1998 Chicago Bulls to seven games in the Eastern Conference finals. They also lost to the New York Knicks in the 1999 conference finals.
"I played on some Indiana teams that were destined, should've, could've, but always came short," Miller said. "That team? We were stacked, man."
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Fox Sports
23 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
NBA mock draft: While Duke's Flagg stands out, guards could have their own big Round 1 showing
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Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, forward, Duke Fresh off trading away Luka Doncic, the Mavericks luck into a versatile 6-foot-8, 221-pound forward who led the Blue Devils to the Final Four while becoming only the fourth freshman named AP men's college basketball national player of the year. He can thrive as a scorer ( Atlantic Coast Conference freshman-record 42 points against Notre Dame) or playmaker (team-best 4.2 assists). His length and competitive edge can impact games defensively (team highs of 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks). And he has an all-around game more advanced than his age with room to develop as he turns 19 in December. 2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, guard, Rutgers The son of former NBA guard Ron Harper offers size at the point (6-5, 213 pounds) and averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a freshman. He could join NBA rookie of the year Stephon Castle in the backcourt for star Victor Wembanyama. 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New Orleans Pelicans: Kon Knueppel, forward, Duke The 6-7, 217-pound Knueppel is an efficient scorer who was named ACC Tournament MVP while Flagg was sidelined by injury. Knueppel shot 40.6% on 3-pointers and ranked sixth in Division I by shooting 91.4% at the foul line. The freshman also had 10 games with at least four assists to show potential as a secondary playmaker for a Final Four team. 8. Brooklyn Nets: Khaman Maluach, center, Duke With four first-round picks, the Nets could start with a long-term bet on the 7-1, 253-pound South Sudanese big man to hit his potential as a rim-protecting lob threat. Maluach had the combine's biggest wingspan (7-6 3/4) and showed stretches of capably defending guards on switches in his lone college season. He shot 71.2% largely on dunks and putbacks, so he'll need time to refine a raw offensive game. 9. Toronto Raptors: Kasparas Jakucionis, guard/forward, Illinois The 6-5 freshman has shown an all-around floor game. He averaged 15 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists as a freshman, including one run of six straight 20-point games that featured matchups against three ranked teams — including then-No. 1 Tennessee. He also had four double-digit rebounding games and eight games with at least seven assists. 10. Houston Rockets: Derik Queen, center, Maryland The 6-9, 248-pounder earned a spot in March Madness lore by banking in a buzzer-beating runner to beat Colorado State and reach the NCAA Sweet 16. The nimble move illustrated the still-developing upside for a skilled freshman who nearly averaged a double-double (16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds). 11. Portland Trail Blazers: Collin Murray-Boyles, forward, South Carolina The sophomore has a strong frame (6-7, 240) that could allow him to work some on the wing and bang inside with a nearly 7-1 wingspan. He contributed as a capable scorer (16.8), rebounder (8.3) and defender (1.3 blocks, 1.5 steals). 12. Chicago Bulls: Carter Bryant, forward, Arizona The 6-7, 215-pound freshman reserve shot 37.1% on 3s and showed defensive potential by averaging a block per game despite playing just 19 minutes a night. He had one of the top max vertical leaps at the combine (39.5 inches). 13. Atlanta Hawks: Asa Newell, forward/center, Georgia The 6-9, 224-pound freshman who helped the Bulldogs return to the NCAAs for the first time in a decade offers an upside that could allow him to contribute as a small-ball big man or alongside another big man as a power forward. He could be a home-state frontcourt boost for the Hawks, though the 19-year-old must get stronger and improve his shooting (29.2% on 3s). 14. San Antonio Spurs: Noa Essengue, forward, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) The lanky 6-9, 194-pound forward from France has been honing versatile skills in Germany and turns 19 in December. 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Saraf has proven adept as a scoring playmaker, averaging 12.8 points and 4.6 assists this season in Germany. 20. Miami Heat: Liam McNeeley, forward, UConn The 6-7, 215-pound McNeeley jumped right in as a freshman starter for the two-time reigning NCAA champion Huskies and projects as a floor-stretching wing, including with 22 points in the NCAAs against eventual champion Florida and a 38-point showing against then-No. 24 Creighton. 21. Utah Jazz: Danny Wolf, forward/center, Michigan The 6-11, 252-pound junior thrived in moving from the Ivy League (Yale) to the Big Ten as a low-post presence, averaging 13.2 points and 9.7 rebounds while ranking among Division I leaders with 15 double-doubles. He also showed the ability to step outside (38 made 3s in 37 games). 22. Atlanta Hawks: Nolan Traore, guard, Saint-Quentin BB (France) The 6-5, 175-pound guard from France is a scoring playmaker and has been regarded as a possible lottery prospect. 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USA Today
23 minutes ago
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Associated Press
27 minutes ago
- Associated Press
The Pacers are in the NBA Finals. The Fever have Caitlin Clark. In Indy, basketball is booming
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