Lead your team to two consecutive playoff appearances for the first time in nearly a quarter century. Take the Los Angeles Clippers to the brink of elimination without your All-Star caliber center. All that doesn’t seem like it’s going to be wasn’t good enough for Mark Jackson to stay on as the Golden State Warriors head coach.
Update: Golden State has announced that Jackson has been relieved of his head coaching duties.
OFFICIAL: The #Warriors have relieved Head Coach Mark Jackson of his duties: http://t.co/o8FFN3tbWv
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 6, 2014
The search now begins with a backdrop of an angry fan base in search of answers. Stan Van Gundy and Steve Kerry have both been linked to the Warriors over the past week or so.
Golden State owner and GM meeting with Mark Jackson now, and sources close to management and coaching staff believe Jackson will be fired.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 6, 2014
This has been making the rounds for quite some time now, but it all now seems to be coming to a head. Whether you agree with Golden State’s decision here isn’t really the point. There has been a lot going on in the background that we are not privy to. Jackson let go of two assistant coaches during the regular season and doesn’t seem to have the best of relationships with the front office.
It’s still mind boggling that an organization that had been relegated to irrelevant status on the national stage would fire a head coach that has put up the most successful two-year stretch since, at the very least, the first Don Nelson era.
We know about one star player on the Warriors who isn’t happy about this move.
Stephen Curry: ‘Totally unfair’ Mark Jackson under scrutiny for head coaching job http://t.co/FAqolDIksY
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) May 5, 2014
Photo: Kirby Lee, USA Today