Obviously the Golden State Warriors’ first-round exit in the playoffs didn’t help Mark Jackson in any way, but I think we all know by now that there was some discontent behind the scenes on both sides that led to this premature divorce.
According to Tim Kawakami of the Contra Costa Times, an outwardly humble Jackson put out a statement after it was announced today that he was fired, but he did leave one little shot in there against his former employers to cause a stir.
JACKSON: I want to thank the Warriors organization for giving me a chance and thank the incredible fans in the area. And thank my players who I love and appreciate.
We accomplished a lot in three years and we should be proud. I wish them nothing but the best.
But to me, now the pressure’s on for them to get a championship. It’s not the time for them to be patient any more. This is a championship-caliber team. We were in the playoffs without David last year, and we were without Bogut this year.
When this team is healthy, it is a legit contender. That’s something that we’re all looking at going forward.
The Warriors organization won’t have a hard time finding candidates for the coaching vacancy because it’s a very attractive job. But the roster still needs tweaking if they are to reach their championship goals.
Jackson won’t be out of work for very long either, I think he’s highly respected and is seen as a proven coach in the eyes of many.