NBA broadcaster and former elite point man Mark Jackson has been hired to be the next coach of the Golden State Warriors.
“After an extensive search and a great deal of consideration, we have come to the conclusion that Mark Jackson is the best coach for this team,” said Warriors’ General Manager Larry Riley. “He will bring a youthful and fresh approach to our team and the fact that he enjoyed a stellar playing career, where he served most of that time as the leader of some very successful teams, will prove invaluable in the long run. We were looking for a coach with leadership ability and a strong personality and believe Mark possesses those qualities. He’s very well respected in NBA circles, is a consummate professional and his knowledge and background will be an incredible asset for our team and organization.”
“We are tremendously excited about the addition of Mark Jackson as our new head coach,” said Warriors’ Owner Joe Lacob. “He epitomized leadership as a player in this league for 17 seasons and we think that characteristic – and many other positive traits – will translate very well into his coaching duties with our young team. He was a leader and a winner both on and off the floor in this league and we’re convinced that he is the right person to guide this team into the future and help us achieve the success that we are striving for as an organization.”
Jackson will be taking over for Keith Smart and ushering in a new era of Warriors basketball with Jerry West.
Maybe these NBA front office types know more than I do, but I've never pictured Jackson as a coach. Maybe it's because I've heard him on television so much recently that I couldn't see him going into coaching. I wish him luck, because he's gonna need it and some patience with the Warriors franchise.
I know some will disagree, but I'll actually miss him in the booth.
Showing posts with label Mark Jackson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mark Jackson. Show all posts
Monday, June 6, 2011
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Mark Jackson On Long List To Replace Walsh As Knicks GM
Mark Jackson, the former NBA point guard and current analyst for ESPN and ABC, is having his name bandied about once again for the position of general manager of an NBA franchise. This time, New York's favorite son, Jackson was on the list of GM candidates to assume control of the New York Knicks for departing team President and GM Donnie Walsh. According to reports, Walsh submitted Jackson's name to owner James Dolan a month and a half ago.
Since 2007, Jackson's name pops up every time there is an opening in an NBA front office or head coaching position and he has still yet to take one of the jobs. The New York-bred Jackson would be a lot more welcome at Madison Square Garden than Knicks boomerang Isiah Thomas. Thomas' shadow is always lurking behind Dolan.
Jackson's name has already been tossed around this year for GM positions with the Minnesota Timberwolves and he is considered a finalist for the Golden State Warriors head-coaching job.
The former Knicks guard had been mentioned as a candidate for the Memphis Grizzlies GM post in 2007 and the Atlanta Hawks last season and has yet to leave the broadcast booth.
The question that is louder than an NCAA women's softball game is why is Jackson in such high demand?
There is no question about Jackson's NBA pedigree. He was the 18th pick coming out of St. John's and was Rookie-of-the-Year with the Knicks in 1987. In his 17-year career, Jackson acquired the third highest career assists total and was known as a tremendous leader on the floor. He even led the sickly Los Angeles Clippers to the playoffs...twice!
The 46 year-old Jackson has the court savvy and intellect only an all-time NBA player could gather and has become one of the finest analysts on television--in any sport. The problem, naysayers always bring up, is Jackson's lack any front office or coaching experience whatsoever.
There must be something behind Jackson's curt assessment of what he sees on the court which gets NBA teams' hearts aflutter whenever an opening arises.
Nobody knows the NBA as well as Jackson. After all, Jackson's calls a game like he played it--back to the basket, dribbling, slowly pushing his way to the hoop, then finishing with a flair. They instituted "the five-second rule" because of his get-off-my-back style and it still goes by the "Mark Jackson Rule."
Maybe teams believe Jackson's playing traits and smarts, which made Jackson's transition into a formidable analyst look easy, are the same intangibles which bring success to a GM or coach--even without management experience.
Could Jackson help the Knicks? It could be a rough ride for the Knicks and their fans. Walsh's sudden, but not totally unexpected, departure has left a big void. The team sold playoff tickets for the first time in seven years and, although the Boston Celtics brought broomsticks, there was an exciting buzz around the Garden once again.
Stability and a young guard could take the team to the next level in 2012 said the believers. The Knicks then suckered wishful fans into paying more money for their seats next year. But even more frightening to the fans than that 49% rise in ticket prices is the possible resurrection of Dolan's lap-dog Thomas.
Yesterday, Thomas said words that sent chills all throughout the Knicks nation. When asked if he would return, Thomas grinned and said, "Never say never about anything. All my doors are open."
That sound you just heard was 19,000 fans--including Spike Lee--nailing the Garden's entrances shut.
Jackson may not be a front-runner for any GM position and rolling the dice on a front office newbie is a risky venture especially for the Knicks right now. But it's about time he took one of the offers and put to rest any questions of whether or not he is capable of running the show.
The only qualms holding him back in New York might be personal grudges he has against the Knicks organization.
In 1992, New York traded the popular Knick to, what was then, an eternity in hell--or more commonly known as the Los Angeles Memorial Sport Arena--home of the Clippers. Fast forward seventeen years, when the Knicks needed a head coach, and opted for Mike D'Antoni. Jackson was a little peeved after he found out his name was listed as number three on the Knicks coaching wish list.
When Walsh wanted to hire another St. John's star Chris Mullin as his GM last year, the idea was shot down by Dolan because it was rumored that the owner still had the hots for Thomas. Chances are, he still does.
Funny, that prophet who miscalculated the day of reckoning changed the new day of Rapture to October 21. Isn't that the first day of the Knicks season?
Since 2007, Jackson's name pops up every time there is an opening in an NBA front office or head coaching position and he has still yet to take one of the jobs. The New York-bred Jackson would be a lot more welcome at Madison Square Garden than Knicks boomerang Isiah Thomas. Thomas' shadow is always lurking behind Dolan.
The former Knicks guard had been mentioned as a candidate for the Memphis Grizzlies GM post in 2007 and the Atlanta Hawks last season and has yet to leave the broadcast booth.
The question that is louder than an NCAA women's softball game is why is Jackson in such high demand?
There is no question about Jackson's NBA pedigree. He was the 18th pick coming out of St. John's and was Rookie-of-the-Year with the Knicks in 1987. In his 17-year career, Jackson acquired the third highest career assists total and was known as a tremendous leader on the floor. He even led the sickly Los Angeles Clippers to the playoffs...twice!
The 46 year-old Jackson has the court savvy and intellect only an all-time NBA player could gather and has become one of the finest analysts on television--in any sport. The problem, naysayers always bring up, is Jackson's lack any front office or coaching experience whatsoever.
There must be something behind Jackson's curt assessment of what he sees on the court which gets NBA teams' hearts aflutter whenever an opening arises.
Nobody knows the NBA as well as Jackson. After all, Jackson's calls a game like he played it--back to the basket, dribbling, slowly pushing his way to the hoop, then finishing with a flair. They instituted "the five-second rule" because of his get-off-my-back style and it still goes by the "Mark Jackson Rule."
Maybe teams believe Jackson's playing traits and smarts, which made Jackson's transition into a formidable analyst look easy, are the same intangibles which bring success to a GM or coach--even without management experience.
Stability and a young guard could take the team to the next level in 2012 said the believers. The Knicks then suckered wishful fans into paying more money for their seats next year. But even more frightening to the fans than that 49% rise in ticket prices is the possible resurrection of Dolan's lap-dog Thomas.
Yesterday, Thomas said words that sent chills all throughout the Knicks nation. When asked if he would return, Thomas grinned and said, "Never say never about anything. All my doors are open."
That sound you just heard was 19,000 fans--including Spike Lee--nailing the Garden's entrances shut.
Jackson may not be a front-runner for any GM position and rolling the dice on a front office newbie is a risky venture especially for the Knicks right now. But it's about time he took one of the offers and put to rest any questions of whether or not he is capable of running the show.
The only qualms holding him back in New York might be personal grudges he has against the Knicks organization.
In 1992, New York traded the popular Knick to, what was then, an eternity in hell--or more commonly known as the Los Angeles Memorial Sport Arena--home of the Clippers. Fast forward seventeen years, when the Knicks needed a head coach, and opted for Mike D'Antoni. Jackson was a little peeved after he found out his name was listed as number three on the Knicks coaching wish list.
When Walsh wanted to hire another St. John's star Chris Mullin as his GM last year, the idea was shot down by Dolan because it was rumored that the owner still had the hots for Thomas. Chances are, he still does.
Funny, that prophet who miscalculated the day of reckoning changed the new day of Rapture to October 21. Isn't that the first day of the Knicks season?
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