NBA legend Reggie Miller was seen shedding a tear after listening to Stephen Jackson‘s apology in a recent episode of the “All The Smoke” podcast. While talking about the infamous “Malice At The Palace” incident, Jackson shared a heartfelt apology to Miller for his role in the event.
“I never had a chance to tell you that I’m sorry,” said Jackson, while talking about the incident. “We all understood what our motivation was for that season. It wasn’t for us. It was for you [Miller]. The whole motivation was for getting things done the right way, and getting a championship was for you.”
“I never got a chance to apologize to you for my actions,” continued the former Pacers forward. “Now, with me saying that, I love you even more because you defended me. Because you knew that I was just being a loyal teammate.”
Miller was brought to tears by Jackson’s apology. Having been over 20 years since the “Malice At The Palace”, the guard had to remind his former teammate that the apology wasn’t necessary.
“You don’t need to apologize to me, first of all,” said Miller. “You young cats, and when I say young, I mean, Jamaal, Jermaine, Al, yourself, Ron, those last few years in Indiana – my best years.”
“I didn’t have my superpowers. But you guys made me feel like Superman,” added the former Pacers guard while reminiscing about his time with the team.
Miller regarded that iteration of the Indiana Pacers as one of the best teams he had been a part of. However, the incident was certainly one of the most controversial ones in the league’s history.
The “Malice At The Palace” took place on November 19th, 2004, during a game against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The events unfolded in the closing seconds of the game after Ron Artest committed a hard foul on Pistons center Ben Wallace, igniting a scuffle between the players.
Although the situation died down and play was to resume, matters hit a flashpoint when a fan threw a drink at Artest, provoking the forward to charge into the stands to retaliate.
The ensuing melee saw Pacers players and the home fans engaging in a brawl. The game was eventually cancelled, with law enforcement taking over the situation.
Several Pacers players faced harsh suspensions. Artest was suspended for the entirety of the season as well as the playoffs. Meanwhile, Jackson received a 30-game suspension as well. The entire event was chronicled in the 2021 Netflix series “Untold: Malice at the Palace.”
The incident had an impact on Indiana’s season. Miller, who was already 39 years old, was on his last legs. He averaged 14.9 points per game that season. The Pacers still managed to finish the regular season with a 44-38 record. However, it added to their legacy of unfortunate finishes in the playoffs as they came up short against the Pistons in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
