Rookie hazing has been a rite of passage for many NBA players. However, there are cases when veterans go overboard, or first-year guys have had enough of their teammates' antics. Former Indiana Pacers first-round pick Al Harrington shared his experience when he joined Mark Jackson's podcast, "Come and Talk 2 Me."
The retired forward had thought of resorting to violence after being subjected to Jackson and Reggie Miller 's tomfoolery. Fortunately, he was talked out of it by his former housemate and retired Pacers big man Antonio Davis.
"One day in practice, man, you and Reggie would not leave me alone," Harrington told Jackson . "Y'all just had something with me that day, just would not stop."
Sage advice from Davis
After a rough day with Jackson and Miller, Al said he went home to the place he shared with Davis , with whom he shared his troubles.
"He came in, and he said something to me, and the way I said it, he was like, 'What's wrong with you?'" Harrington continued . "I was like, 'Bro, I don't think I could take this anymore, man.' And he like, 'What?' And I was like, 'Yo, Reg and Mark, man, I can't. They just like every day. I'm just, I don't understand. Why every day?'
"... Ask Antonio this. I said, 'Tomorrow, either one of them say something to me, I'm swinging on them,'" Al added.
While Harrington was telling the anecdote, Jackson could be seen chuckling, as he probably knew how harsh he had been to Al and possibly his other teammates in the past.
The former journeyman then shared the sage advice he got from Davis, who told him, "I wouldn't do that, young fella. ... That's the worst thing you could do." Imagine if Harrington hadn't had the veteran teach him that hazing is part of any NBA player's journey; all hell probably would have broken loose.
The New Jersey native's initial plan probably would have also changed the trajectory of his career, and Pacers fans might not have seen him form an iconic trio with Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal.
Miller's hazing antics
Over time, Harrington also probably realized how brutal Miller and Jackson sometimes treated younger teammates.
In fact, Reggie has become infamous for his hilarious rookie hazing stories . For instance, he once had Primoz Brezec sing the Slovenian national anthem before a game and regularly ordered rookies to perform in front of the Indiana crowd.
Miller also had a contentious relationship with Jamaal Tinsley because the retired point guard got tired of submitting to the rules and doing the chores the Hall of Famer assigned him. Tinsley's disobedience only made it worse because the Pacers icon punished him by having him pick all the balls he had kicked up to the bleachers.
Fortunately for Harrington, he likely didn't earn Miller's ire with some help from Davis.
Related: Al Harrington recalls missing his first meeting with Larry Bird: "Don't ever be fu***ng late again"
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