Many Warriors fans have groaned to hear Mark Jackson calling the Warriors-Celtics NBA Finals games on ESPN’s broadcast. There’s just something a little weird about having your ex-coach call the games while Steve Kerr is on the sidelines going for his fourth title in eight years. Jackson also rubbed some Warriors fans the wrong way for saying Kawhi Leonard’s rolled ankle was solely responsible for Golden State’s 2017 title.
Still, Jeff Van Gundy doesn’t want to hear any more slander of his broadcast partner Mark Jackson. On Wednesday’s “Damon & Ratto” show, 95.7 The Game host Damon Bruce complimented Jackson on forging a defensive identity for the Dubs while asking Van Gundy a question. Check out JVG’s full conversation here:
Mark Jackson conversation starts at 9:15 mark below
“I’m glad to hear someone in the Bay Area actually speak up for Mark,” Van Gundy said. “Myself, as a basketball person, quite frankly, I’m tired of the slander that gets put out by some media members. … Because it’s been disappointing frankly over the years, where people knowingly hear wrong things in the media and refuse to involve themselves and say that that is bluntly wrong. So thank you for bringing that up.”
Jackson coached the Warriors from 2011-14, making the playoffs the final two seasons, but hasn’t got a head coaching job since. Kerr won a title in his first season, 2014-15, and has continued to lead one of the NBA’s biggest franchises to new heights.
“I think that the thing I admire about Steve Kerr and Mark is that Steve Kerr was very humble when he took over and gave Mark incredible amount of praise,” Van Gundy said. “Likewise, Mark in his broadcast position, because we had the Warriors so often, always returned that phrase to Steve Kerr. The humility that both, and the respect that both have shown for each other, I really, really admire.”
Related
