Mark Jackson grateful for Rick Pitino’s Knicks coaching endorsement: ‘Got great taste’

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The Knicks teaching search has gone from sloppy to embarrassing, and one among their former coaches, Rick Pitino, proactively stated he has no real interest in the job.

However Pitino did stump for one among his former Knick gamers, suggesting they rent Mark Jackson within the Backyard.

And the seemingly blackballed Jackson — who hasn’t coached in over a decade — appreciated the endorsement of his mentor.

“He’s a legend. I really like him to demise,” Jackson, talking on SiriusXM NBA Radio, stated of Pitino, who coached the purpose guard throughout his first two seasons with the Knicks.

Jackson received NBA Rookie of the 12 months underneath Pitino in 1988 and was an All-Star the subsequent season.

Rick Pitino addresses reporters throughout a press convention on March 21, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Publish

“I’m not within the league 17 years enjoying if he’s not my first coach,” Jackson stated. “I’m perpetually grateful, and he’s Coach to me.

“He’s an excellent basketball thoughts. He’s turned over St. John’s College and turned again the hand of time to carry them again to their glory days. It’s nice to look at. It’s enjoyable to look at. He’s one of many best coaches within the historical past of sports activities, not simply basketball. And on prime of that, he’s received nice style by that assertion.”

One can query the Knicks’ style in abruptly firing Tom Thibodeau on June 3, simply three days after they have been eradicated from their first Jap Convention finals since 2000.

ESPN analyst Mark Jackson is pictured earlier than a December 2018 recreation. Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs

Since then, Knicks president Leon Rose has been denied permission to talk with Dallas’ Jason Kidd, Houston’s Ime Udoka, Minnesota’s Chris Finch, Atlanta’s Quin Snyder and Chicago’s Billy Donovan, in keeping with a number of reviews.

The Publish’s Stefan Bondy has confirmed the Knicks are anticipated to interview former Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins and former Kings coach Mike Brown, every fired earlier this season.

The Publish reached out to the brokers for each Jenkins and Brown on Saturday, with neither returning calls.

Mark Jackson coaches throughout a December 2013 recreation for the Warriors. Getty Photographs

Although there isn't a indication Jackson is a candidate for a Backyard return, Pitino — who coached the Knicks from 1987-89, and earned AP Coach of the 12 months this season for St. John’s — took to social media earlier this week to inform his former employer that there's a great candidate really accessible.

“I clearly coached our rookie of the yr, Mark Jackson,” Pitino tweeted Wednesday. “I consider he spent 18 years within the NBA as a participant. Nice coach with the Warriors and one of many brightest minds I’ve coached. Would like to see the Knicks carry Mark Jackson residence!!”

Definitely New York can be a return residence for Jackson, after rising up in Brooklyn and starring at St. John’s earlier than having two stints with the Knicks in a 17-year enjoying profession.

What’s occurring on and off the Backyard court docket Join Contained in the Knicks by Stefan Bondy, a weekly unique on Sports activities+.

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He coached Golden State from 2011-14 and performed a key function in turning round a shedding Warriors group right into a contending group.

However after posting a 121-109 document with two playoff appearances in Golden State, Jackson was fired in 2014 and hasn’t coached since.

The Publish additionally has reported that ex-Villanova coach Jay Wright isn’t within the Knicks job regardless of the presence of former Wildcats Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart.

UConn’s Dan Hurley additionally preemptively withdrew.

Michael Malone (who received the 2023 NBA title with Denver), Frank Vogel (who received with the Lakers in 2020) and Mike Budenholzer (who received with Milwaukee in 2021) can be found, as are Detroit assistant Luke Walton and Cleveland assistant Johnnie Bryant, the latter of whom was Thibodeau’s affiliate head coach from 2020-24.