ESPN’s Jalen Rose Blasts Phil Jackson for Controversial Social Justice Comments

Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson made headlines over the weekend when he revealed he hasn’t watched the NBA in years, after what he views as the league taking an overly-political stance during the “bubble” 2020 season at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. His comments drew some raised eyebrows within basketball circles—and one high-profile former player didn’t hold back when asked his thoughts on the matter.

ESPN analyst Jalen Rose took to social media on Sunday to offer his reaction to Jackson’s words, criticizing the former coach who won 11 titles over a 20-year span while leading the Bulls and Lakers dynasties. Rose denounced Jackson for his views, urging him to “stop watching forever.”

“You can’t make this up … The same Phil Jackson that won championships with some of the greatest Black athletes in the history of the game: Michael Jordan. Scottie Pippen. Shaquille O’Neal. Kobe Bryant,” Rose said. “Made millions on their backs. And off their sweat equity.”

Jackson made his comments as a guest on the Tetragrammaton podcast with Rick Rubin, saying he found it amusing that players swapped out their last names on the back of their jerseys for words like “justice” and “equality,” adding, “I couldn’t watch that.” He criticized the NBA for inserting politics into the games and broadcasts, insisting that such an approach was “turning other people off. People want to see sports as non-political. Politics stays out of the game. It doesn’t need to be there.”

Rose decried Jackson’s stance and suggested the 77-year-old stay away from the game for good.

“You’re sitting there watching the game with your grandkids, and y'all think it’s funny when ‘justice’ passes the ball to ‘equal opportunity?’” Rose said. “When somebody shows you who they are, believe them. So stop watching, forever.”