Stephen Jackson: 'It felt good to punch a fan one time'

The Spurs released veteran Stephen Jackson in April prior to the playoffs. (Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Stephen Jackson earned a 30-game suspension and a heavy fine for his role in the 2004 player-fan melee known as "The Malice in the Palace." Appearing on ESPN's Dan Le Batard Is Highly Questionable, Jackson admitted that he hated being fined $3 million by the NBA, but enjoyed punching a fan who threw a beer at Pacers teammate Ron Artest during the brawl at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

“All the racial slurs I done heard,” he explained. “All the things I heard about my mom, and my basketball game and my kids, all this. It felt good to punch a fan one time.”

Jackson's "Malice in the Palace" comments begin at the 3:45 mark:

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The infamous brawl began when Pistons center Ben Wallace retaliated after a hard foul by Artest, then escalated when players from both teams entered the stands to confront spectators.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI6OkXntGLI

Jackson also recalled that Artest asked him an unforgetable question in the post-fight locker room: “Do you think we’re going to get in trouble?”