Former NBA player Stephen Jackson has been in the spotlight in recent days after the death of his close friend, George Floyd, who died after Minneapolis police officers kneeled on his neck and back.
And now, the 14-year NBA veteran has basketball's biggest star in his corner.
LeBron James — who has one of the most influential voices in the world of sports — texted Jackson in a show of support for all he's doing in standing up against police brutality and advocating for social justice in the wake of his friend's death.
"He posted me speaking, and I text him back, 'I appreciate you, bro, I won't let you down," Jackson told The Undefeated of his conversation with James. "He text me back, 'You haven't and I won't either.'"
"That was deep," Jackson added.
Jackson — who played for nine different teams over the course of his NBA career — said James' firm stance on many different social and political issues is what makes him "the greatest athlete ever."
"I always tell people, '[Michael] Jordan might be the best basketball player, but LeBron is the greatest athlete ever,'" Jackson said. "It's bigger than basketball with me why I love LeBron."
James has been outspoken on social media in recent days about the Black Lives Matter movement and the pursuit of justice for Floyd and other victims of police brutality.
—LeBron James (@KingJames) June 3, 2020
—LeBron James (@KingJames) May 31, 2020
—LeBron James (@KingJames) May 29, 2020
Jackson has offered many a powerful statement to the media and to protesters since his friend's death on May 25. He previously described Floyd as his "twin" and has vowed to care for his six-year-old daughter, Gianna, in light of her father's killing.
"I'm going to walk her down the aisle," Jackson said at a press conference Tuesday. "I'm going to be there for her, I'm going to be there to wipe your tears."
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder, while the three other officers present at the scene were charged with aiding and abetting murder.
- Read more:
- Drew Brees on NFL players kneeling next season: 'I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag'
- LAPD used UCLA stadium named in honor of Jackie Robinson to detain Black Lives Matter protesters, and the school demanded it stop
- The San Francisco 49ers participated in #BlackoutTuesday and fans are calling it hypocrisy after the treatment of Colin Kaepernick
- Floyd Mayweather plans to pay for George Floyd's funeral expenses after the death sparked outrage across the nation
