Warriors GM Bob Myers told SFBay Mark Jackson was 'surprised' by his firing.
OAKLAND — If you’ve ever heard Mark Jackson speak, you know everything happens “at the end of the day.”
Well, at the end of this day, Mark Jackson is no longer the head coach of the Warriors.
The Golden State Warriors relieved Mark Jackson of his duties Tuesday morning, just three days after completing his third season as head coach.
Warriors General Manager Bob Myers said the conversation was a long one that ended amicably, but told SFBay Jackson was surprised by the decision:
“Yeah. I think anytime anybody is ultimately relieved of their job most people would feel a little bit of a surprise even if they may or may not have expected it. But the conversation went as well as it could and in those situations you want to be respectful and I think all parties were.”
In an interview with Bay Area News Group’s Tim Kawakami, Jackson said he was appreciative for the platform he was given and that he is fine with decision that was made:
“I’m not going to be flipping tables and acting the fool. It was respectful and I’m fine with that. I’m absolutely fine with that.”
On multiple occasions Warriors players have come out in support of Jackson. The face of the franchise, Stephen Curry, even said that he would be shocked if Jackson was fired.
Myers said that he has spoken to a handful of the players and told SFBay he didn’t hear any anger at the decision to let Jackson go:
“It’s well documented that they enjoyed playing for Mark. But everybody has said they trust the organization. … I think the players that we have in that locker room and on the roster will play hard for whoever our next choice is.”
Jackson, 49, was the third head coach in franchise history to lead the team to at least 50 wins in a season, taking the Warriors to a 51-31 record this season and a combined 121-109 record during his time in the Bay Area.
As for the next coach of the Warriors, Myers said they have not begun to make a list of names:
“We want a coach that knows how to win and also at the same time embodies the values and core beliefs that the organization does. We don’t want to go through this process again.”
With 121 regular season wins overall, Jackson ranks fourth on the Warriors’ all-time win list behind Alvin Attles (557), Don Nelson (422) and Eddie Gottlieb (263).
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