Kicked Out of the Warriors and ESPN, NBA Veteran Reveals Steve Kerr’s Humble Gesture After 10 Years

Steve Kerr is not just a 5x NBA champion and a successful coach, but a synonym for kindness. At least that’s what you get from a revelation made by Mark Jackson. Jackson, who coached the Golden State Warriors for three years, talked about a courteous gesture that was made towards him by his successor, Kerr. On the Mark Jackson show, he revisited the time the Warriors relieved him of his duties.

“Now it’s awkward, if now, I’m calling NBA games. And I got to go interview Steve Kerr in my office. So, it’s very awkward. To his credit…I’ve never went in that office or the new office and interviewed Steve Kerr. He’s been gracious enough, kind enough to come to me. Valuable,” Jackson stated, on his podcast. Notably, before being ousted as the broadcaster from ESPN in 2023, Jackson had to interview Kerr. That gesture made by the current Warriors Coach still holds significant value for Jackson.

Even earlier in the podcast, he praised Kerr for what he achieved with the Warriors. The ex-New York Knicks star sees him continuing to coach the Warriors in the upcoming time as well. “He’s done an incredible job. Why leave wins and potential championships on the table,” Mark stated.

 

It is worth mentioning that Jackson was fired from the Warriors, back in 2014 after his 3-year run with the team. The Warriors witnessed a 50-game win record for the first time since 1993-94 during his time. However, some believed that he was not doing enough with the roster he had and the alleged differences with the staff back then sealed his fate. Steve Kerr was subsequently hired to continue from where Jackson left. However, the 4-time NBA Champion has always credited his predecessor for what he achieved with the Warriors.

Steve Kerr and Mark Jackson: A bond of mutual respect   

In the cut-throat competitive environment of the NBA society, it’s never easy to acknowledge that someone did a better job than you. However, this has not been the case with either of the last two coaches of the Warriors. Both of them have time and again paid their respects to each other. Back in 2017, Kerr had credited Jackson for working and strengthening the Warriors’ defense. He said, “When I was in TV, I was doing Warriors games for years; every year, they were one of the worst defensive teams in the league”.

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“Mark came in and made a focus of being a tough defensive-minded team,” Kerr stated. He previously also acknowledged Mark Jackson’s contribution to setting the tables for the Warriors’ future success. On numerous occasions, Jackson also appreciated his replacement in GSW. “You have to give him a lot of credit,” he once stated!

What is your opinion of this bond of mutual respect? Let us know your views on the two coaches in the comments.

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