Josh Jackson: NBA rookie backtracks after he says Steph Curry is 'small and unathletic'

Sept. 30 (UPI) -- NBA rookie Josh Jackson had some explaining to do after calling Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry "small and unathletic."

The Phoenix Suns forward was doing a video for Vice Sports when he made the comments.

He was asked which player he compares least to.

"Player that I compare least to? Probably Steph Curry, just because he's known as a shooter, and I'm not, and you know he's small and unathletic," Jackson said.

The comments quickly picked up social media steam as Jackson has not yet logged an NBA minute and Curry is one of the top players in the league, with two NBA MVP Awards and two NBA championships.

Jackson, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, tried to explain the comments by defining his version of athleticism.

He made the comments at the 1:15 mark in the video.

"Man y'all make a story out of anything," Jackson tweeted. "My definition of athletic is a guy who flies through the lane and plays above the rim."

"And y'all wonder why we don't like the media," Jackson tweeted. "Stop twisting people's words."

"Did I ever say the man wasn't great? Just not athletic or tall like myself," Jackson tweeted.

Jackson, 20, posted 17.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game in the NBA Summer League. Phoenix begins its preseason schedule with a 7 p.m. game Tuesday against the Portland Trailblazers at the Moda Center in Portland, Ore.