Stephen Jackson, originally Stephen Jess Jackson, is an American former basketball player who played in the NBA for 14 seasons and won the championship in 2003 as part of the San Antonio Spurs. Over the course of his 14 seasons in the league, he earned more than $68.6 million in salary alone. As of April 2024, Stephen Jackson has a net worth is estimated to be around $20 million.
Even though the shooting guard bounced from team to team, he garnered unparalleled success in the league setting multiple records in the process.
After retiring from the NBA in 2015, Jackson joined the BIG3 basketball league with the Killer 3s playing alongside Chauncey Billups.
In 2021, he became the head coach of the BIG3 team Trilogy and led the team to back-to-back BIG3 Championships.
NBA players are paid handsomely, and few have gone broke because of bad investment choices and spending sprees. The former three-point specialist Jackson almost fell into the trap. In a recent interview, he revealed how he blew his first paycheck of $25,000 in a day.
Jackson has more interesting stories to tell, so please stick with us till the end.
Also, do not forget to check out the facts table below.
Stephen Jackson | Quick Facts
| Full Name | Stephen Jess Jackson |
| Known As | Stephen Jackson |
| Nickname | Action |
| Birthdate | April 5, 1978 |
| Age | 46 Years Old |
| Birthplace | Houston, Texas, United States |
| Current Residence | San Antonio (Former) |
| Father’s Name | George Aldridge |
| Mother’s Name | Judy Jackson |
| Sibling | Donald Buckner Jr., Bianca |
| Nationality | American |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Renata Elizabeth White (m. 2009-Present) |
| Children | Camron Jackson, Taylor Jackson, Skylar |
| Religion | Islam |
| Height | 6 ft. 8 in/2.03 m/203 cm |
| Weight | 220 lb./100 kg |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Ethnicity | Afro-American |
| Zodiac Sign | Aries |
| Profession | Former NBA Player & Businessman |
| School | Abraham Lincoln Memorial High School, Oak Hill Academy |
| College | Butler County Community College |
| Net Worth | $20 Million |
| Achievements, Awards & Honors | NBA Champion (2003)
McDonald’s All-American (1996) Second-team Parade All-American (1996) |
| NBA Stats | Points: 12,967
Rebounds: 3,328 Assists: 2,634 |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
| Merch | Rookie Card |
| Last Update | April 2024 |
Stephen Jackson | Early Life & Education
Stephen Jackson was born on April 5, 1978, in Houston, Texas, to his father, George Aldridge, and mother, Judyette Jackson.
He was raised by Judyette, a single mother in Port Arthur, Texas.
Despite working two jobs, his mother struggled to put the food on the table, and that was when Jackson began working in his grandfather’s soul food restaurant in Port Arthur. He used to bus tables and wash dishes there.
Coming to the education part, Jackson went to Lincoln High School and played basketball for the Lincoln Tigers’ men’s basketball team.
In his junior year, he led the team to a state championship.
Nevertheless, because of academic ineligibility at Lincoln, he transferred to Oka Hill Academy in Virginia.
Even though he was an exceptional basketball player, his academic was not that great. He had initially committed to joining the University of Arizona but was ruled ineligible due to low ACT and SAT scores.
Jackson then went to Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kansas but did not play basketball there.
Stephen Jackson | Age, Height & Weight
Stephen Jackson is 46 years old as of April 2024.
He has a large build weighing 220 pounds while standing 2.03 meters tall.
Because of his body stature, he was able to shoot like no one else which helped him win several honors in his high school as well as college basketball.
Stephen Jackson | Professional Career
Jackson was drafted by the Phoenix Suns 42nd overall in the 1997 NBA Draft. However, Suns waived Jackson on October 30.
He then went on to play in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) for La Crosse Bobcats over two on-and-off seasons.
While with the Bobcats, he averaged 2.7 points in 12.7 minutes per game.
Similarly, in 1998 he played four games for the Sydney Kings in NBA Australia.
To hone his skills and advance in basketball, he further played professionally in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
Despite being drafted in the late 90s in the NBA, Stephen did not play until the 2000-01 season in the league.
Then 2001 season saw him play with the New Jersey Nets.
Even though he played 77 games with 40 starts, the Nets did not retain him, and that was when the San Antonio Spurs signed him.
Jackson helped the Spurs win their second NBA title during the team’s run in the 2003 NBA Playoffs.
He averaged 12.8 points per game, making him the team’s third-leading scorer.
The same year he rejected the Spur’s contract extension and signed a two-year deal with the Hawks.
After the 2003-04 season, he was traded to the Pacers.
On January 2007, the Pacers traded Jackson to the Golden State Warriors.
He additionally played for Charlotte Bobcats and Milwaukee Bucks and returned to Spurs for a brief and finally retired following the 2013-2014 season with the Clippers.
Jackson announced his retirement on July 22, 2015. After NBA, he tried his hands with the BIG3 league and then podcasting.
Stephen Jackson | Net Worth & Contract
As of 2024, the former shooting guard Stephen Jackson has a net worth of a whopping $20 million.
His fortune can be utterly attributed to his successful NBA, BIG3, and podcasting career.
In addition to that, he also made a few million from brand endorsements.
Despite the fact that NBA stars make millions from their contracts and incentives, financial literacy is not commonplace among athletes.
For this reason, an alarmingly high number of pros squander away their career earnings and are forced to live a normal life after retirement.
We are talking hundreds of millions of dollars in career earnings.
So what causes this situation?
Well, the answer is pretty straightforward. Because of unhealthy spending habits, family members wanting their piece of the pie, and unnecessary purchases mainly drive these kinds of situations.
First Pay Check
We all are familiar with Shaquille O’Neal’s story. He spent his signing bonus of $1 million in a matter of hours. Even though he has climbed through the situation, some people are just less fortunate.
In the case of Jackson, when he was signed by the Phoenix Suns in 1997, he received $25,000, his first-ever paycheck.
Jackson hails from a low-income family raised by a single mother working multiple jobs to put food on the table.
When he received $25 grand, he, along with his friend Mike Bibby went to the mall and bought everything they could put their hands into.
When they got back home, Jackson just had $4-$5 grand in his pocket.
This was an eye-opener for Jackson. He recently revealed that the majority of his decision-making came from never being exposed to such money and the right financial advisors.
Luckily for Stephen, his financial decision-making has drastically improved over time. Otherwise, he would have squandered his $68.6 million career earnings in a spending spree.
Contracts
In 2000, Jackson signed a $316,969 one-year deal with the New Jersey Nets.
And after a few low-value contract extensions, he hit the jackpot with Indiana Pacers. On July 15, 2004, Jackson signed a six-year $38.25 million contract with the team as part of a sign-and-trade.
This was his largest career contract and came with an average annual salary of $6.37 million.
Similarly, when he was traded to the Warriors, he signed a three-year $28 million contract with the team on November 17, 2008.
According to the contract, he received an average annual salary of $9.25 million.
All in all, Jackson made $68.6 million from NBA salary with different teams over 14 seasons.
Stephen Jackson | Legal Issues & Controversies
When you are rich and famous, controversies follow you everywhere.
Stephen has had his share of controversy and legal issues.
In 2004 and 2006, the shooting guard pled guilty to felony criminal recklessness.
He was charged with assault, two counts of battery, and disorderly conduct.
Similarly, in 2020 Jackson pissed off some of the most decorated players in the NBA after he defended the Eagles wide receiver, DeSean Jackson, for sharing anti-Semitic posts on his social media.
He received a lot of criticism for his legendary NBA players, such as Charles Barkley and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Jackson later apologized for his comments.
Stephen Jackson | Personal Life
The former NBA player Stephen Jackson has been married to Renata Elizabeth White since 2009.
He was formerly engaged to Imani Showalter, with whom Jackson shares two children; Camron Jackson and Taylor Jackson.
Imani was a cast member of the 1st season of Basketball Wives: LA.
According to Jackson, he broke up their engagement because of the prenup agreement issues.
He said that the two had previously agreed to sign the agreement, but when the documents arrived, Showalter delayed signing the papers.
Furthermore, Jackson follows Islam. As a matter of fact, he converted to Islam on January 6, 2021.
Similarly, aside from being a basketball player, Jackson is also a music artist, having released a rap mixtape.
In December 2011, he released a mixtape titled What’s Lockout? under the alias Stak5, hosted by DJ Scream of Rick Ross-owned Mayback Music Group.
It includes guest appearances by several well-known artists, including rapper Scarface.
Unknown Facts
- Stephen Jackson supports Black Lives Matter.
- On October 11, 2006, Jackson was charged with a felony count of criminal recklessness and pled guilty. He received one-year probation and was fined $5,000. He was also ordered 100 hours of community service.
- He currently hosts the digital video podcast titled All the Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Stephen Jackson have a ring?
Yes. Jackson won the NBA championship as part of the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs won the NBA finals in the 2002-03 season.
How long was Stephen Jackson suspended?
On November 19, 2004, Stephen was involved in a brawl with fans in the stands. As a result, he was suspended for 30 games without pay. Throughout his suspension, Jackson lost close to $1.7 million in salary.
How much did Stephen Jackson get fined?
Stephen was fined $25,000 for issuing a hostile statement directed at Serge Ibaka in a Twitter message.
