Mark Jackson is under fire in Golden State and it’s not looking to good for him. A report came out on Tuesday alleging that Jackson asked team adviser Jerry West not to show up for most team practices and activities.
Jackson made a show of firing Scalabrine in front of players and other coaches, but he had no real grounds, and the front office made Jackson find a compromise, per a source familiar with the matter: demoting Scalabrine to the D-League. In addition, Jackson has asked that Jerry West, a high-level adviser in Golden State, not attend most practices and team activities, sources say.
During an interview with USA Today, Jackson denied that report calling it “a lie and disrespectful.”
“That’s a lie,” Jackson told USA TODAY Sports after the Clippers’ 113-103 Game 5 win Tuesday. “Come on. That’s a lie. That’s disrespectful.”
When asked directly if West — who joined the team when the group led by Joe Lacob took over ownership in the summer of 2010 — was welcome at his practices, Jackson said, “Absolutely. He has been at the practices. He’s there. That’s a flat-out lie.”
A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed that West has been at recent practices. That is in accordance with the initial report, as it was not indicated that West was absent from all of the team’s sessions or activities. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the situation.