Stephen Jackson recalls Ron Artest going into the stands and getting beaten up by fans: 'I never thought I would have to go into the stands and actually help my teammate fight fans'

When players spend most of the year together and experience the highs and lows of playing in a long and arduous NBA season, they forge a bond that goes well beyond the court. From intense practices to downtime on the road to going through the gauntlet of the postseason, players become like a family. That's why when one of their own is in trouble, the rest of the team stands up for them.

On November 19, 2004, the Indiana Pacers faced off against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was just another regular-season game until things took an unexpected turn late in the game when a scuffle broke out between Ron Artest and Ben Wallace. Moments later, all hell broke loose in a notorious incident known as the "Malice at the Palace."

Stephen Jackson, a Pacers forward who was right smack in the middle of that massive brawl, detailed the thoughts that went through his head as he watched his teammate Ron Artest (now Metta Sandiford-Artest) race up the stands to confront the man he thought threw a cup at him.

Brothers not by blood

When an athlete goes through the mud and sheds blood, sweat, and tears in the pursuit of hoop greatness, they form an unbreakable bond with their teammates. They become brothers not by blood but by the shared experience of competing at the highest level. For Jackson and Artest, that bond was tested that night in Detroit.

"People don't understand how it feels to be with a guy who you call your teammate, and you're with more than your family during the course of a season. How do you expect me not to go help him, even though he's wrong at the time?" Jackson said in an oral history of the infamous event that gave the NBA a huge black eye.

As the violent scene unfolded before his eyes, the 6'8" forward from Houston, Texas, knew right from wrong; fighting fans would never fly with the league. However, he also realized that letting Artest fend off the mob of angry Pistons fans alone was not an option.

"Going in the stands is totally not right. As a youngster, you learn to be there for your teammates, but you're never taught to go into the stands. I never thought I would be in a situation where I would have to go into the stands and actually help my teammate fight fans," "Stak" recalled. "But at that time, there's no way I could have lived with myself knowing that my teammate is in the stands fighting and I'm not helping him."

Being the ultimate teammate

As the former standout of Butler County Community College pursued Artest into the stands to try and extricate him from the tricky situation, Jackson knew there would be repercussions. After all, he would be trading fists against the very fans that had helped elevate the league to unprecedented heights. However, that was the farthest thing on his mind; getting "Ron-Ron" and himself to safety was the top priority.

"I don't regret being there for my teammate. But I regret going in the stands and fighting fans. It was totally wrong, but you don't think about that when somebody you call your brother is in harm's way. The only thing you're thinking about is getting out there and helping him," Jackson stressed.

The incident undoubtedly cast Stephen in a bad light, with observers, pundits, and even fellow NBA players labeling him a "thug." However, as he reflects on that fateful night, Stephen insists that his actions were solely driven by his loyalty to this teammate who needed help.

"A lot of people just think I was being a thug in going in there. My whole thought was, my teammate is in the stands fighting and I'm going to be there for him. I knew as soon as I took the first step to go into the stands that there was going to be consequences behind it, no question. But I can deal with those consequences knowing that my teammate is here alive and healthy," the retired forward explained.

Fortunately for Jackson, Artest, and the rest of the Pacers, they eventually returned to their locker room in one piece. However, the main protagonists of the "Malice" suffered severe penalties. Artest was suspended for the remainder of the 2004-2005 season, while "Stak" was slapped with a 30-game suspension.