'Ben turned around and got 10 times bigger' - Stephen Jackson recounts the moments on the floor before the 'Malice at the Palace'

The "Malice at the Palace" was a regrettable incident that put a dark cloud over the NBA for quite some time. According to Stephen Jackson, a former NBA champion who was one of the main players in that notorious brawl, it should have never happened had his teammates kept their focus on finishing the game rather than gaining vengeance for a foul that occurred in the previous playoffs.

"Get your foul back"

Speaking on Jeff Teague's podcast, "Club 520," Texas native shared that as he was at the free-throw line, getting ready to shoot a couple as the Pacers were up by 13 points with under a minute left in the ballgame, he suddenly overheard his point guard, Jamaal Tinsley, talking with Ron Artest (now Metta Sandiford-Artest).

"I'm at the free-throw line. I'm going to tell y'all some sh*t that a lot of people don't know. I'm at the free throw line; I'm shooting the free throw. All I hear is, 'You can get your foul back,' and Jamaal Tinsley telling that to Ron," Jackson shared. "I'm like, 'Man, what the f**k? No, don't tell him that!'"

Although Artest was one of the most talented two-way players in the league at the time, having won the Defensive Player of the Award the previous season, most people knew him for his volatile temper and erratic behavior. So when Jackson saw Tinsley potentially instigating a situation that could lead to another brawl, he knew he had to intervene.

"I ran back—look at the tape—I ran back fast and jumped and guarded Ben (Wallace) just so Ron couldn't foul him. I'm guarding Ben; I'm just letting Ben go score. The time running out, go ahead, you know, I'm just playing token defense, I ain't fouling him, go score," Jackson stated.

Ben became the "Incredible Hulk"

As the Pistons center went to the basket, Artest jumped in the air and gave a hard foul to Wallace, something the latter took exception to. Moments later, Ben shoved Artest in the face, sending him a few feet back.

"Ben turned around and got 10 times bigger. Ni**** just started swelling up like the Incredible Hulk. I'm like, 'Ooooh!' He just, boom, I thought Ron's head came off. Damn, that ni**** pushed Ron back so fast, dog. I'm talking, 'My God, I've never seen a ni**** put his hands in somebody's face like that, dog,'" the 6'8" forward recalled.