Whenever the NBA finishes altering its goofy “flop” rules and regulations, it also needs to change its establishment’s perception of Stephen Jesse Jackson.

Once branded among the league’s notorious outlaws, the former Lincoln Bumblebees’ basketball superstar is rightfully taking his place among its premier players. Stevie is climbing recognition mountains on other adventurous hikes, too.

This is not your older brother’s Stephen Jackson who encountered problems quicker than traveling violations. This is not the Jackson who was grouped among the NBA’s unsavory black hats. God has tossed a few lemons in Stevie’s jumbo NBA cup and…. ooops, Stevie’s making lemonade.

That’s happening for Jackson at 235 Proctor Street where the Stephen Jackson Academy has offered kids of all sizes, shapes, ages a summer camp at home away home. It also means Jackson’s mom has found her son a place to work on his

game at any hour of the day or night. Pretty neat… you bet.

Behind the red exterior that faces the building’s front, a gym with true purple and gold lining covers all four inner basketball walls. It’s a Beehive-type scenery that has to make James Gamble, Melvin Getwood, Michael Jaco, Bryan Sallier or Anthony Allen feel right at home. Earl Evans, B.J. Tyler or any other great BumbleBee would happily shoot hoops here.

Stephen’s year-old gym comes in extremely handy because Stevie is starting the process of rehabilitating a turf toe. The 31-year-old captain and senior member (age-wise) of the Golden State Warriors underwent surgery on Mar. 31 to remove multiple bone spurs above the nerve tissue under his big toe.

Nine years in the NBA will cause the body to experience a fracture here or there. Yet Jackson’s mind, his reliance on God, his maturity as a leader, the whole package is jelling nicely. In defense of Stevie, the next mountain Jackson will climb will be a mountain called defense.

Defense, you say? Jackson already is regarded as a guy who can score points.

He averaged 20.7 a game last season. He collected an impressive 6.5 assists – second only to LeBron James for forwards. He averaged 39.6 minutes a game, trailing only Atlanta’s Joe Jackson.

But here’s the subtle aspect of Stevie’s game that you may have missed.

He’s played “hurt” the last three years. Bone fragments were removed from Jackson’s left foot and he endured the pain for three seasons.

Jackson’s first day to run arrived on Thursday and he offered a thumbs-up medical report.

“I had my career year on a broken toe, so I can imagine how I will be next year,” he said. “I didn’t walk on it for about two months. It felt real good. It’s just a case of getting my strength back.

“I got tired of fighting the pain during those games. I still got the job done but it’s definitely going to help me out a lot being able to play without pain.”