Coach Mark Jackson's fate with the Golden State Warriors may have been decided as early as February.
Mark Jackson's extra-marital affair and stance on Jason Collins leads to ouster?
SFBay.ca is reporting that a four-word response from Jackson concerning the acquisition of a journeyman center at the time could be the impetus for the rift between Jackson and the Warriors management.
The player being talked about was named Jason Collins. According to SFBay, reporters caught up with Jackson on a Warriors road trip before Collins signed with the Brooklyn Nets. They asked his opinion of several big men that were possible roster additions.
Someone first named Brian Scalabrine as a joke. But then, Collins' name came up and the mood quickly turned somber after Jackson's response.
Mark Jackson accuses Warriors of propaganda to stage firing?
According to a source close to the team, SFBay reported, Jackson's response was "terse."
"Not in my locker room."
SFBay went on to speculate that "Jackson's remarks are the latest and strongest indication that his intolerant attitude toward gays was grossly out of step with the progressive Bay Area and views held by Warriors management."
Warriors president Rick Welts is the only openly gay high-ranking executive in the NBA.
When Collins announced he was gay last year, Welts expressed his support said he was disappointed with Jackson's comments on Collins' news:
"I will say this. We live in a country that allows you to be whoever you want to be," Jackson said. "As a Christian man, I serve a God that gives you free will to be who you want to be. As a Christian man, I have beliefs of what's right and what's wrong. That being said, I know Jason Collins, I know his family, and am certainly praying for them at this time."
SFBay reported that Welts said he and Jackson cleared the air at the time.
"I think that was in some way taken out of context," Welts said "... He probably didn't say it exactly the way he wished he'd said it at the time so it did disappoint me. Since then we've certainly talked it out and we're in a good place."
Welts refused comment to SFBay.
Warriors owner Joe Lacob is on the record as saying Jackson's firing had nothing to do with his religious beliefs. SFBay contacted Lacob, whose only further comment was, "I have no comment. We have moved on. I have made my statements."
Neither Jackson nor his representatives responded to SFBay requests for comment.
No reporters covering the team have yet to address the story.
Do you think coach Mark Jackson's comments concerning Jason Collins led to his dismissal at Golden State? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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