The Golden State Warriors have fired coach Mark Jackson after just three seasons and despite the veteran coach leading the franchise to back-to-back playoff berths for the first time in nearly two decades.
ESPN reports Jackson met with management on Tuesday, less than 48 hours after the Warriors were ousted from the Western Conference playoffs in the first round by the L.A. Clippers. Management came to its decision despite the affable Jackson having the public support of nearly all his players, including star guard Stephen Curry.
Throughout the year, the Warriors' brain trust never seemed to be on the same page about the direction of the team, with assistant coaches Brian Scalabrine and Darren Erman both being dismissed during the season and reports emerging Jackson was no longer even speaking with assistant GM Kirk Lacob.
Stephen Curry wants Mark Jackson back
Still, Curry told the San Jose Mercury News he felt the way his coach has been treated is "totally unfair." The 26-year-old All-Star guard later added "what Coach has gone through this year has been unlike anything I've seen, just the amount of distractions, the circus that has been around him and the decisions he has had to make. I love Coach more than anybody. For him to be in a position where his job is under scrutiny and under questions is totally unfair."
Warriors' players support Mark Jackson
Jackson led the Warriors to 51 regular season wins this year and was 121-109 over his career.
"Mark Jackson has had a big impact on the improvement of our team and the success that we've had over the last couple of year," Lacob told ESPN. "Nonetheless, we must make some difficult decisions in our day-to-day operations of the club and this would certainly qualify as one of those examples. We wish Mark the best of luck in his future endeavors and thank him for his contributions over the last three years."
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