Klay Thompson Baffled by Warriors Ex-Coach’s Cursed Fate After ESPN Firing

The Golden State Warriors ruled the Western Conference for the better part of the decade. Appearing in five successive NBA finals from 2014 to 2019, the Warriors hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy thrice during that run. While their success coincides with Steve Kerr taking the reins as head coach of the team, the foundation was set years before that – by Mark Jackson.

During a recent appearance on The Draymond Green Show, Klay Thompson expressed his surprise that a coach like Jackson hadn’t found an opportunity elsewhere in the league. Stating Jackson’s importance during the formative years of the Golden State Warriors dynasty, Thompson said, “It’s strange, it just doesn’t add up, because without Mark, there’s no foundation for what was to come, especially defensively.

“I mean, we had the top-rated defense in consecutive years with Mark, and then for him to let Steph and I shoot the shots we would shoot, that was kind of taboo back then…So it does not make very much sense how he has not had another shot to lead a franchise, but I hope he really does, because, man, he was great, and those are really special memories”, Thompson said. The perks the Warriors had with Jackson in charge are pretty well known.

Under Jackson’s leadership, the team more than doubled their win total from the previous season. Before Jackson took the helm in 2011, the Golden State Warriors had endured a lengthy drought, with only two winning seasons and a lone playoff appearance from 1994 to 2012. But Jackson surprised many around the league by taking a young Warriors team to the Western Conference semi-finals in the 2012–13 season. However, the Warriors fired him after the 2013–14 season. Since then, he has not had the chance to coach a second NBA team.

His three-year tenure also coincided with the emergence of the best shooting backcourt in league history – the ‘Splash Brothers’ we know and love today. Moreover, he is also credited with laying the defensive foundation upon which the dynasty was built. Therefore, while it is strange that he did not get a second chance in the league, it looks like he has found his calling.

What does Mark Jackson do now?

After departing from the Golden State Warriors, Mark Jackson transitioned into a role providing color commentary alongside Jeff Van Gundy and Mike Breen on ESPN. However, fate dealt him another hand. Last summer, the network underwent an on-air talent shakeup, leading to Jackson’s departure. Despite reports of a potential part-time role to call the Knicks games for MSG Networks this season, that opportunity never materialized.

Jackson then ventured down a new lane in the media realm. The former Warriors coach pivoted from NBA broadcasting to launch his own podcast, The Mark Jackson Show with his son, Mark Jr. (also known as Bluu), distributed exclusively on the Come and Talk 2 Me media network.

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