Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen stirred controversy earlier this week when he accused his former head coach Phil Jackson of being racist and drawing up a game-winning play for Toni Kukoc during the 1994 NBA playoffs that was racially motivated.
But one of Jackson's former players with the Los Angeles Lakers doesn't support Pippen's strong claims and criticisms.
"Those accusations, it was a little bit over the edge. I don't feel like Phil's a racist," Metta Sandiford-Artest told The DA Show on Thursday. "I don't feel like Phil's a racist. But I don't want to get in between those two guys... But I love those guys, so it's kind of disappointing. I think maybe they should talk, with MJ and those guys... Phil's not racist, but Phil's not from the hood, you know what I'm saying?
"Phil's not from the hood, but Phil is a hippie. And Phil's been around the game, he's been coaching black players for a long time. He'd probably sometimes try and be like us, but some things rub off. I heard him say things where, 'Yeah, Phil, you're not that hip, buddy.' I don't think Phil is racist. And I don't want to come down on Scottie -- I don't know Scottie. I don't think Phil is racist at all, though."
Sandiford-Artest, who played under Jackson from 2009 to 2011 and won an NBA title with Los Angeles in 2010, joined Shaquille O'Neal and Robert Horry as the third former Laker to refute Pippen's accusations so far this week.
"I've played for Phil. I don't think Phil is racist," Horry said Wednesday on his "Big Shot Bob Pod" podcast. "He's said some stuff before that kind of, I had to check him on it. For me, I don't think he's racist."
Will Perdue, who played alongside Pippen in Chicago for seven seasons, told CBS Sports Radio on Wednesday that he recently spoke to old teammates about Pippen's claims, and everybody was "a little stunned" by the news.
Jackson has yet to publicly address Pippen's comments.
The entire NBA conversation between Sandiford-Artest and DA can be accessed in the audio and video players above.
You can follow The DA Show on Twitter @DAonCBS and @CBSSportsRadio, and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.