Warriors Suspend Stephen Jackson

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. -- About an hour before the Warriors were scheduled to tip-off their nationally televised, outdoor contest against the Phoenix Suns, the team released a statement saying that they have suspended Stephen Jackson for "conduct detrimental to the team," for an incident which took place during Friday night's game against the Lakers.

The suspension is for the next two games, beginning with tonight's against Phoenix. Head coach Don Nelson isn't commenting on the particulars, but he did say that it's the first time in his career that he's ever suspended a player.

"I'm not going to make any comments on it," Nelson said. "I'll refer to the statement that's already been given. I will say that in my 30, whatever it is I've been coaching, my 30-some-odd years, I've never suspended a player before. Maybe I should have a couple of times, but I never have.

"I try to stay away from that because it can cost a player a lot of money, and I hate to take big money from guys -- it's fun to take five or 10 or 100 -- but I try to stay away from suspensions as much as I can."

It's unclear specifically what Jackson did to get suspended, but here's what was visible in Friday night's game against the Lakers.

Jackson was frustrated with Kobe Bryant, after the two had been involved in some unusually physical play for what was just the second game of the preseason. After Jackson was called for a foul, he got in Bryant's face and let him know he wasn't happy with something that he had done. Shortly thereafter, Jackson picked up a technical foul, followed by three more, which gave him five personals in under eight minutes of play.

While this was happening, Nelson seemed content to let Jackson play through it, but when there was a timeout and Jackson headed to the bench, he and Nelson had words, and Jackson headed to the locker room for the rest of the game.

Whether this was an isolated incident remains to be seen, but it's of course more than possible that Jackson is doing his best to further his chances of getting traded, as he mentioned not-so-subtly back in August.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=515348&pid=515347&uts=1255238329

http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf

Latest NBA Photos

NEW ORLEANS - OCTOBER 10: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dunks in front of Marcus Thornton #5 New Orleans Hornets during a pre-season game on October 10, 2009 at the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Russell Westbrook;Marcus Thornton

NBAE/Getty Images

NBAE

Latest NBA Images

Phoenix Suns' Louis Amundson, right, shoots as Golden State Warriors' Andris Biedrins defends during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Indian Wells, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Francis Specker)

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) and teammate Shaun Pruitt (55) grab the rebound away from Phoenix Suns' Goran Dragic during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Indian Wells, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Francis Specker)

Golden State Warriors' Anthony Morrow, left, pushes off Phoenix Suns' Leandro Barbosa during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Indian Wells, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Francis Specker)

Phoenix Suns' Steve Nash, right, drives to the basket past Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Indian Wells, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. The game is being played outdoors at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. (AP Photo/Francis Specker)

Spectators watch the Golden State Warriors play the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Indian Wells, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. The game is being played outdoors at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. (AP Photo/Francis Specker)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Charlie Bell and center Andrew Bogut joke around in the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. Milwaukee won 98-86. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Hakim Warrick, top, gets caught up with Chicago Bulls defends while going after a rebound in the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. Milwaukee won 98-86. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson, right, shoot over Milwaukee Bucks forward Hakim Warrick in the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. Milwaukee won 98-86. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich (12) shoot over the defense of Milwaukee Bucks center Kurt Thomas (40) and guard Luke Ridnour (13) in the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. Milwaukee won 98-86. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (12) tries to defend Chicago Bulls forward Derrick Byars (7) in the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. Milwaukee won 98-86. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)