Knicks veteran surprised Mark Jackson doesn't have NBA job - New York Post

Knicks point guard Jarrett Jack isn't lobbying for the Knicks to hire Mark Jackson. He just knows some team should take that chance for next season.

Jack told The Post he's surprised Jackson hasn't been scooped up after the Warriors fired him after their first-round, seven-game playoff elimination by the Clippers in 2014.

Jack speaks from experience, having played 79 games for Jackson as Stephen Curry's backup at Golden State in 2012-13, when the club went 47-35. Jack and Jackson are still in contact.

"I do believe and I am surprised he hasn't been back in the league,'' Jack told The Post. "I think one thing you judge people on is the body of work in front of them. If you look at the body of work — what he did three years there — I think he matches up with any coach anywhere. I'm not saying you should hire him here, but he should be considered for any job. I think he's got the wherewithal to execute no matter what the situation."

Jackson, 52, logged a 121-109 record in three seasons with the Warriors, going 23-43, 47-35 and 51-31. His firing was more about a bad relationship with ownership and the front office than his record. He also reportedly refused to make upgrades to his coaching staff.

"Part of it was that he couldn't get along with anybody else in the organization," Warriors owner Joe Lacob said in 2014. "He did a great job, and I'll always compliment him in many respects, but you can't have 200 people in the organization not like you."

According to Jack, the players dug Jackson. During a Knicks road trip this month, Jack, when reciting all the coaches he has played for, said of Jackson: "He's a player's coach. You know what I mean? Straight up and down, the long and short of it."

Jack went further, telling The Post: "I thought he just spoke the language of the players. It just seemed if he was able to still play, he still would be playing. That particular coaching staff played these games after almost every practice and got so competitive.… The way he rolled, maybe that comes from being in the environment most of us are from — inner city. He spoke and talked to us like equals. He used a lot of the language we used. It was different. But I thought it helped in a lot of different ways.''

Before any possibility of Jackson returning for a third Knicks stint (he had two as a player), team president Steve Mills first would have to make a final decision on coach Jeff Hornacek, who is twisting in the wind with 10 games left and only one season remaining on his contract. Knicks general manager Scott Perry joined the Knicks in Miami on Wednesday after finishing up scouting of the NCAA Tournament. Perry wants to be around the team to make final evaluations on not just the coaching staff but his young point-guard trio.

But league sources believe the Knicks will have sincere interest in Jackson if Hornacek is relieved of his job. One industry source predicted ABC/Knicks broadcaster Mike Breen will be looking for two new partners next season — with Jeff Van Gundy ready to take the plunge for the right job.

The Post reported after Steve Kerr reneged on his verbal agreement to coach the Knicks nearly four years ago, Mills lobbied then-president Phil Jackson to interview the former St. John's legend. The Zen Master refused.

Working against Mark Jackson is the fact the Warriors flew into dynasty mode once Kerr took over.

"I think the mindset he brought to the team is something that definitely shouldn't be overlooked,'' Jack said in his defense. "On camera, when I hear them still go in the huddle 'Bring it, 1-2-3,' I know that's a slogan Coach Jackson brought to the team. His ideals, principles he learned still exists over there. That's a salute in itself.''

After leaving Golden State, Jack, 34, who many believe will become a head coach, played in Cleveland in 2013-14 for Mike Brown, who also could be a Knicks candidate. Brown is now a Warriors assistant and Jack views him as a defensive innovator.

"[Brown] has a way of defending things that are out of the norm,'' Jack said. "The way he did it 'oh that's good. I haven't seen it that way and I've been around this league for a minute.' To have a whole different scheme to approach something with was impressive. We still struggled with it at the time but the innovative ways he came up with schemes, I felt was pretty cool."

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