The New York Knicks officially hired Mike Brown to replace Tom Thibodeau as their head coach on Monday. The Knicks were the last NBA team without a head coach, and that means another cycle has gone by without Mark Jackson being hired. After Brown held his introductory press conference on Tuesday, Jackson sent a cryptic message on Instagram.
“You’re more than qualified, your resume says you’re more than qualified, your body of work says you’re more than qualified, so it’s easy to get depressed,” Jackson said. “It’s easy to get discouraged, it’s easy to get down, it’s easy to have doubt and start questioning. I don’t know who I’m talking to.
“You even prayed about it, asked about it, and it didn’t happen,” Jackson continued. “Well, it didn’t happen for a reason. The worst place to be in this world is outside the will of God… What’s yours is yours. Stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready.”
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That’s some great motivational talk in general. You better believe Jackson is staying ready, although it seems unlikely he’ll ever get another head coaching opportunity in the NBA.
Jackson’s first and, so far, only stint as head coach in the NBA was with the Golden State Warriors. He was hired in 2011 and led the Warriors to back-to-back playoff appearances in 2013 and 2014. They had an impressive 51-31 record in 2013-14 but would lose in seven games to the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round.
Jackson, who had amassed a 121-101 coaching record, was fired following that early exit, with Steve Kerr being his replacement. Kerr has, of course, led the Warriors to four championships, and many believe Jackson deserves credit for laying the foundations. So, why hasn’t he had a head coaching job since?
Well, Jackson’s strong religious beliefs certainly appear to have played a part. He had also allegedly displayed homophobic behavior during his time with the Warriors.
Whether that’s true or not, there is this belief that the NBA has blackballed Jackson, and that has only grown over the years. He did emerge as a finalist for the Sacramento Kings‘ head coaching job in 2022, but Brown would end up getting the role.
Despite barely ever getting any consideration, Jackson stated in 2024 that he still hopes someone will give him an opportunity to coach in the NBA.
“I do have dreams and aspirations of one day coaching again. I look forward to the opportunity, it’s frustrating that it hasn’t happened but at the same time I got total trust in God that ultimately somebody will give me an opportunity and I look forward to impacting lives and winning ball games and being in the thick as a coach again.”
“I would definitely consider coaching college. From my standpoint, I believe that I have the ability to impact college and pros so whatever opportunity presents itself.”
“There was success in Golden State 19 straight years one trip to the playoffs and all of a sudden we make the playoffs after the first year two years in a row and win 50 games, wasn’t me, it was us we did a great job of establishing the culture and changing the culture so I’m honored to have played a role proof.”
Jackson most recently worked at ESPN but was laid off in 2023. He has launched his own podcast, the Mark Jackson Show, since.
