Plenty has been said and written about the team of Mike Breen, Mark Jackson, and Jeff Van Gundy following the two analysts being laid off by ESPN in recent months. Stephen A. Smith addressed the changes on his podcast this week and said Jackson, in particular, deserved better.
“Mark Jackson is a brilliant basketball mind, an accomplished player, an elite and cerebral point guard, and an even better man,” Smith said. “I’m incredibly sad that he was let go, but I wasn’t surprised once I started reading the reports.”
He added that he is close with both Jackson and Van Gundy. He has respect for both of them as analysts. When he says he was not surprised, it was not a comment on their work. He just saw a lot of people suggesting that following Van Gundy’s dismissal, ESPN could blow up the entire booth.
Whether or not Van Gundy and/or Jackson plan to stay in the broadcasting field is unknown. Smith says if that is what Jackson wants to do, he should be able to.
“I believe in Michael Jackson. I believe he’s an elite basketball analyst who definitely should land on his feet, but the reason I’m sad is because I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned as to whether or not you get the opportunity to do so.”
Smith’s concerns stem from the way Jackson has been treated by the NBA following his three-year stint as head coach of the Golden State Warriors. He not only built the foundation of the dynasty that would secure four titles for the team and his successor, Steve Kerr, but he was undeniably successful, making the playoffs two of his three seasons and finishing with an overall winning record.
Smith noted that there have been less accomplished coaches that landed a second job. He knows that Jackson has his critics both as a man and as a leader. If that is what has kept him from getting another coaching job in the NBA, which Jackson has said he wants, there is no guarantee that it wouldn’t stand in his way of getting another broadcast job in the league.
“I know he has his critics and I know there are people that look at him and felt he should have did things differently,” Smith said. “There are some people that don’t like him. I know all of that. But even they would admit the likelihood of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson becoming what they became would not have happened if it were not for Mark Jackson. You would think, since they’re four time champions. Says there are two of the greatest shooters who have ever graced the sport. You would think that would warrant him getting another job.”
