Words by Roman White
TMZ Sports caught up with former NBA player Stephen Jackson at Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday to talk about marijuana use in the NBA. While talking with the reporter, the former NBA star believes that marijuana hasn’t been legalized in the NBA because they can’t control the use of it.
There has been a lot of debate about legalizing marijuana in sports for different reasons. Many athletes believe that marijuana can help players in dealing with injuries during the season while Stephen Jackson is advocating that cannabis can help athletes chill out after intense physical activity.
“I smoked my whole career – I had a hell of a career didn’t miss no games,” said Jackson.
The reporter asks the retired athlete if he felt like marijuana helped him play better.
“I ain’t going to say it helped but as far as after the games coming down and relaxing it helped,” said Jackson. “Before the game can’t nobody play high, especially in the NBA.”
Stephen Jackson in his 14 year career played for the Indiana Pacers, Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, New Jersey (now Brooklyn) Nets and won a championship in 2003 with the San Antonio Spurs.
The 6 foot 8 forward is not the only NBA athlete advocating for legal use of marijuana in the NBA.
Minnesota Timberwolves center and 2016 NBA Rookie of the Year, Karl Anthony-Towns said in an interview with ESPN that he’s all for using the chemical properties in marijuana to help benefit athletes’ everyday living. However, KAT does not necessarily believe marijuana should be legalized in the league for recreational use.
Even former NBA commissioner, David Stern, has had a change of heart about marijuana use in the NBA.
“I’m now at the point, where I believe it should be removed from the banned list”, said Stern to former NBA player and cannabis entrepreneur Al Harrington in an interview for Uninterrupted.
