Current ABC/ESPN broadcaster Mark Jackson will interview with the Bucks for a chance to take over as the team’s new head coach, sources inform Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Jackson, a longtime NBA point guard, served as the Warriors’ head coach from 2011-14. He improved Golden State from its lottery malaise into a solid playoff club.
Jackson owns a 121-109 (.526) regular season head coaching record. He led the Warriors to consecutive playoff appearances in 2012/13 and ’13/14. As a sixth seed after finishing 47-35 in 2013, Golden State upset the third-seeded Nuggets to advance to the second round, where the team fell in six games to the Spurs. The next year, the Warriors were eliminated in a hard-fought, seven-game first round series by the Clippers.
Given that the team struggled to break through in the postseason for two straight runs, Jackson was let go by the Warriors. Steve Kerr replaced him, leading the Warriors to their first of four NBA championships during the 2014/15 season.
As Charania notes, Jackson was one of the finalists for the Kings’ head coaching gig last summer before Mike Brown ultimately secured the role. Brown would go on to be named the 2023 Coach of the Year after he improved Sacramento’s record to 48-34 and help the club return to the playoffs for the first time in 17 years.
Milwaukee let go five-year head coach Mike Budenholzer earlier this offseason after his top-seeded Bucks were eliminated in five games by the No. 8 Heat. Budenholzer led Milwaukee to the 2021 title just two seasons ago.
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Oh Damn, didnt think Mark Jackson wanted to go back to coaching, But that could be a big move.
We are practically neighbors from Queens. So I will always support Mark. I know he didn’t handle the Warriors job well. But he is responsible for starting that team. I believe he deserves another chance. If he is totally committed. Just not sure I would bring him back. To coach a top contender like Bucks.
I remember his days in HS along with Kenny Smith and Kenny Patterson – the top three at the time in NYC (and all from Queens). Mark is a great point guard and analyzes the court and game well, however analyzing the locker room is not a strength of his, thus his exit in Golden State. Not sure I’d say he started what became the Warriors, but rather happened to be there. Not sure he’s meant to coach.
Prior to Jackson’s appointment as head coach in 2011, Golden State had recorded just two winning seasons and one playoff appearance between 1994 and 2012. But Jackson surprised many around the league in the 2012-13 season by taking a Warriors team that relied heavily on young players to the Western Conference semi-finals. That group revolved around a core that would prove critical to the team’s future success, including Thompson, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli, all of whom had been in the league for three years or less. Under Jackson, the young Warriors team more than doubled their win total from the previous season. It was also the first year that Curry and Thompson emerged as the best shooting backcourt in league history becoming the ‘Splash Brothers’ we know and love today. That offseason, the team added veteran forward Andre Iguodala, boosting their young core heading into Jackson’s third season in 2013-14.
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Yes I’d say he had something to do with it bro.
The players did it. The reasoning for his departure was because of his presence in the locker room as a coach. He didn’t mesh well with the players. He just happened to be at the right place at the right time. Has he worked as a coach since then? No. And there’s a reason for it. Loved him as a player, but coaching…going to pass. Besides, the splash brothers were going to splash no matter who the coach was. They’d make SVG look good, and I’m not sure that’s possible.
Padam… so, by your explanation per Jackson, Steve Kerr shouldn’t really get much, if any, credit for the Warriors’ success either then.
He should. As he learned from Jackson, managing the locker room and star personalities is a task of its own. Example: Curry/Jordan, Thompson/Pippin, Green/Rodman. He may not be the best x/o coach, but he’s seen how personalities need to be managed, and he learned from one of the best.
And for clarification, I’m referring to Phil Jackson.
Just saw Bob Myers is unsure about his future with Golden State. I find it funny as the only contribution he’s made is drafting Draymond Green. Hired Kerr because Kerr wanted to be in that area while his kid was in school, inherited Curry and Thompson, signed Durant because of Curry and Thompson, and can’t remember a draft pick recently that has produced well other than Poole. The other high picks have done nothing.
Would be an awful hire.
I don’t understand this narrative how he didn’t handle the Warriors job well. They were nothing before him. Sure he wasn’t as good as Kerr the all-time 3pt% leader, but Kerr was just the perfect fit for them.
I think Jackson is the perfect fit for Milwaukee. Holiday has a similar playing style. And maybe Jackson could show Giannis a thing or two about posting up.
He had issues with gender equality. And butted heads with management. The stories are out there.
And the affair with the stripper while he was hollering about Jesus
Gender equality? I heard it was his religious zealousness and homophonic bias against Terri openly gay staff members. I think he has to learn to keep his personal beliefs to himself and not try to impress upon the locker room. I think he would definitely need to have a great mix of assistant coaches especially those that can relate to the younger players. He did take the GSW to three seasons of 20 something wins to 47 to 51 I think.
“I don’t understand this narrative how he didn’t handle the Warriors job well.”
It’s true, though. Read the articles about his tenure. Asking Steph Curry to heal his ankle by ‘anointing’ it with oils, for example.
And Jackson deserves no credit for starting up the Warriors, imo. The front office built the team. Jackson was 23-43 in his first year, and that’s with Steph and Klay. Then they got Draymond, Steph and Klay grew and the team got better.
If anything, Jackson held them back, as their multiple championships after he left show. Swapping out Budenholzer for Jackson would be a huge step backwards. There’s a reason Jackson has not held a coaching job in years.
One thing about Mark is that he knew how to develop talent. But he let his religious beliefs dictate the locker room and that essentially caused the rift from the front office. He didn’t take a liking to his boss, the assistant GM at the time being gay..
With all due respect
To be fair to Mark, he’s an old school harda_s type of coach, which is sometimes needed after a nicer guy like Bud. Say what want about him, but he did make the young Warriors better.
“Say what want about him, but he did make the young Warriors better.”
I disagree. Having perhaps the greatest shooter of all time alongside Klay and Draymond made the team better. The Warriors failed twice in the playoffs with Jackson and then immediately went on a dynastic run after he was fired. An upturned broom could have made the playoffs with those Warriors teams.
That’s quite unfair to say he held them back. He increased their wins from 23 to 47 to 51. Obviously it takes a couple of years before a team meshes together. Give props to alert for making Green a starter and giving Curry and Thompson the green light to move from 7 3pt attempts to 10+ but he did a great job of taking a lottery team to 51 wins and the playoffs. I’ll go a step further and say being a coach who pushes his religious beliefs on others hurt him. Look at all the subpar coaches that get fired and immediately rehired within a year or two because of bad performances. No excuse for him to be passed over if not for other factors beyond x’s and o’s
Why would this even be an idea? Why not interview Van Gundy as well? Hubie Brown is still alive.
Bring back JVG!
Hubie Brown is a wonder. 89 years old and still going at it and has all his wits. Kudos to him.
Love Hubie. I hope he never retires.
Would love to see Mark back in the NBA
Lol oh boy
Mama there goes that championship
At least then I wouldn’t have to hear his inane ‘analysis’ on tv
I’d hate to be a fan of the team he goes to…
But this would be my favourite part of his move to coaching…
This is outrageous. How can he be allowed to associated and mingle with teams while the playoffs are still happening? This destroys all credibility and bias as a broadcaster. He will clearly root for the team that he interviews for. Smdh…
But they’re all out of the playoffs. What’s your point?
Lol!!!
Most announcers don’t openly root for any team and to common sense says he wouldn’t be interviewing for a coach who’s still in the Playoffs.
All these idiots say Mark Jackson did not help the warriors need to be corrected. Curry has stated numerous time how Mark helped him Jackson was labeled wrong.
What’s Curry supposed to say? That Jackson held the team back? Curry is a professional who doesn’t badmouth anyone publicly. I wouldn’t read too much into his bland praise of Jackson.
This was after the controversy that has kept Jackson. He supposedly pushed his Faith on the team. Mark surely had PG wisdom that helped him. You can tell as a commentator he knows his stuff.
I do hope he gets a coaching job…
Not because I rate him highly as a coach… Mainly because he’s a repetitive announcer who always sounds bored…
He’s certainly worth an interview. He’s a bit high maintenance, but why wouldn’t a GM want to hear his take on what might give MIL the best chance to get another trophy.
Gonna interview grant hill, Reggie Miller, Chris webber and Shaq too?
How about a few non-basketball guys like Herm Edwards, Jimmy Johnson (the former cowboys coach or racecar driver), or hold out and see if the Mets fire Buck Showalter..?
Why don’t they ask Bill Clinton? Or Captain Crunch? Huh, tough guy?
Because Chuck Norris has them both locked in his dungeon, that’s why.
How many of those guys have a .526 winning % and we’re fired after his 3 year career where he took a team from 24 to 47 to 51 wins and was fired because his team lost in the first round? Even MJ’s Bulls took a few years of not winning a chip to eventually break thru.
And yet he hasn’t coached anywhere in 8 years. Has to be a reason (or 2) for that.
Dude didn’t even vote for Jokic as MVP… like at all… so he ain’t knowing about hoops, big mistake by MIL if they hire him!
He’s a knick and he’s from queens- s**t means something…
He engendered Golden state and never really got the credit he should have..
I believe the man is a damn good coach!