CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Stephen Jackson was in no mood Tuesday to reveal if he thinks he's being unfairly targeted by the officials. He offered no explanation for his latest ejection and no apology, either.
What caused the combustible Charlotte Bobcats guard to perk up was when he was asked about being just five games shy of the All-Star break, a six-day technical foul-free oasis away from the game.
"I can't wait for the break. I know I need it," Jackson said after practice. "I'm going to go home and see my kids and my family and be around people I know love me and care about me and don't judge me."
Jackson has been receiving a lot of judgments lately, mostly negative due to his apparent inability to control his emotions. Jackson's latest outburst resulted in a first-half ejection from Monday night's upset win over Boston for nonstop complaining that resulted in consecutive technical fouls.
Jackson, Charlotte's leading scorer at 18.8 points a game, has been called for 13 technicals this season, three shy of an automatic one-game suspension. He's lost about $180,000 for his various behavioral issues, including an unpaid one-game suspension and a separate $50,000 fine for berating officials.
"Jack, he does have to change and I think he recognizes that now," Bobcats coach Paul Silas said. "He just can't go after those guys. I know early on this year they said the whole system changed as far as referee and what they were going to take.
"Even though you may not swear at them or whatever, if you continue to talk to them in a disrespectful manner, then they're going to have to do something about it. That's what happened (Monday) night.
Jackson started to complain about being called for a foul on the Celtics' Kevin Garnett late in the first half. Silas said he had hustled to get Gerald Henderson to replace Jackson after he picked up the first technical, but couldn't make the substitution before he was ejected.
Jackson declined to give an explanation.
"I don't have one. It happened," Jackson said. "I ain't got nothing to say about it."
Jackson said "it doesn't help anything" to answer if he feels he was treated fairly Monday. He also was making no promises he'll be able to avoid reaching 16 technicals and the ensuing suspension.
"I'm just playing basketball," Jackson said. "I don't know. We'll see."