Stephen A. Smith campaigns for Mark Jackson with Steve Kerr ‘piggyback' claim
The post Stephen A. Smith campaigns for Mark Jackson with Steve Kerr 'piggyback' claim appeared first on ClutchPoints.
As there have been rumors around the head coaching vacancy of the New York Knicks, ESPN analyst and known fan of the team in Stephen A. Smith, gave his idea for somebody who should be considered. After the shocking news of the Knicks firing Tom Thibodeau, the team is now looking for a new voice to lead the team, with Mark Jackson being Smith's choice.
Advertisement
Jackson played in the NBA from 1987 to 2004, where he was drafted by New York and played there until 1992, and his only coaching stint was with the Golden State Warriors from 2011-2014. Smith would speak on 'First Take' about the time with the Warriors, where he spoke of him building the dynasty in the 2010s, which head coach Steve Kerr 'piggybacked off of that.'
'I'm gonna always mention the name Mark Jackson, because he's been away from the game for a decade as a coach,' Smith said. 'This man was responsible for building Golden State before Steve Kerr was brought in and took over and piggybacked off of that and ascended to four championships, no doubt. But Mark Jackson starred at Bishop Loughlin. Mark Jackson starred at St John's University, Mark Jackson was a rookie of the year playing for the New York Knicks, Mark Jackson was a preeminent voice on the NBA, and he knows and feels and vibes with New York.'
Stephen A. Smith continues to hype up Mark Jackson for the Knicks job
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
While it has been rumored that the Knicks are also interested in Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, Smith would continue to make the case for Jackson. He would speak about Jackson being a native of New York and how he would be the voice for the team, taking shots at owner James Dolan and president Leon Rose, saying they 'hide' from the media.
Advertisement
'He's a native, so a voice for the New York Knicks, where we ain't got to worry about hearing from James Dolan, who hides from us, or Leon Rose, the president, who hides from us. Got APBs out for their a**es,' Smith said. 'We ain't got to worry about somebody like that because you got somebody like Mark Jackson, but I understand that that's pretty much, I doubt that will happen. There is no one that can question the credentials of a Jason Kidd, but you certainly can't question the credentials of a Mike Malone because he's a champion.'
It remains to be seen who will be the next head coach for the Knicks, but it will no doubt come with massive expectations.
Related: Knicks' patient process to replace Tom Thibodeau shouldn't confuse fans
Related: Stephen A. Smith lists Knicks as best trade options for Kevin Durant, Giannis
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
18 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Chris Kreider bids a bittersweet farewell to Rangers, heralds his fresh start with Anaheim Ducks
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Chris Kreider has known for months that his long, decorated tenure with the New York Rangers would probably end this summer. While the close of his run on Broadway is undeniably bittersweet, he's also thrilled to raise the curtain on his next chapter on the West Coast. The Anaheim Ducks acquired Kreider and a fourth-round pick from the Rangers on Thursday in a trade for prospect Carey Terrance and a third-round pick. Kreider waived his no-trade clause to join former New York teammates Jacob Trouba, Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano in Southern California after Rangers general manager Chris Drury decided he needed salary cap space more than Kreider, the left wing who played a key role in New York for more than a decade. The 34-year-old Kreider, who was the Rangers' longest-tenured player, didn't deny a bit of melancholy about his New York exit. 'I think I've probably gone through the spectrum – anger, sadness, grief, whatever you want to call it,' Kreider said. 'But I keep on arriving at gratitude for how I was treated, the opportunities I was given, for the connections I was able to make, the relationships, the friendships, the experiences that I was able to have. Playing in front of that fan base at that arena, playing in some of the games that I was able to play in, stuff that is so memorable and means so much to me, and stuff that I'll take with me the rest of my life.' He's taking it to Orange County, where he'll join a team that appears ready to emerge from a lengthy rebuilding phase under general manager Pat Verbeek. The Ducks have missed the playoffs for seven consecutive seasons, but they made a 20-point improvement in the standings this spring before hiring three-time Stanley Cup-winning coach Joel Quenneville last month to lead a roster impressively stocked with blue-chip talent. 'Having played with some of those guys, it's a team that I've followed probably closer than other teams out West, just checking in on them, seeing how things are going,' Kreider said. 'It's an incredibly deep roster. They've got some fantastic vets with great track records of winning, in the prime of their careers, and they've got a wealth of young talent, of speed, of size, of skill. ... There's so much potential there. I think it's a really exciting time to be a Duck.' Kreider already works out with Ducks forward Trevor Zegras, the ebullient Westchester County native Kreider described as 'born caffeinated.' Kreider also praised young Ducks centers Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish, calling Carlsson 'a special player ... every team doesn't have a player like that.' Kreider chose Anaheim for his exit from the only NHL franchise and town he has ever known. Although Kreider was born and raised north of Boston, he said New York City turned him into who he is today. The Rangers drafted him 19th overall in 2009, and he debuted during the 2012 playoffs. He became a franchise mainstay during New York's run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014. The Rangers made 10 postseason appearances during Kreider's parts of 14 seasons with the team, and he became the Original Six franchise's career leader in playoff goals. Only Hall of Famers Rod Gilbert and Jean Ratelle have scored more goals in a Rangers sweater than Kreider, a two-time All-Star. 'I grew up in the city of New York,' said Kreider, who has 10 career 20-goal seasons. 'I did. I spent my childhood in the Boston area, I went to school there, but I feel like I came into adulthood in the city of New York, became a man, matured, grew up and started a family. So yeah, a lot of emotions, but at the end of the day, just so much gratitude and appreciation.' Drury is committed to shaking up his roster after New York missed the playoffs this spring following a run to the 2024 Eastern Conference final. Drury also traded Trouba, his captain, to the Ducks last December — and Trouba was decidedly less pleased than Kreider by the way his exit was handled by the Rangers. Kreider scored just 22 goals last season while slowed by injuries, and he has two years left on his contract carrying an annual salary cap hit of $6.5 million. While Drury saw that commitment as a weight on his retooling project, Verbeek sees it as a fair price for Kreider's abilities and leadership. 'We took a big jump in the standings last year, and I think there's a realization that the group is ready to take another step,' Verbeek said. 'I think it's intriguing for a player of Chris Kreider's ability to come and play with really good young players that we have, and to not only lead them but to be a part of their growth. ... He's going to be able to do a lot of things for our young centermen, but our young centermen are going to be able to do a lot of things for him as well.' Verbeek praised Kreider's strength and net presence while lauding his skills on special teams, where Anaheim has struggled for years. Kreider said he is already at work during his longest offseason in six years to make sure he's healthy, strong and ready for the Ducks' return to contention. 'To come into a group like the Anaheim Mighty Ducks — or is it just the Ducks now?' Kreider asked with a grin. 'We'll keep the Mighty in there.' ___ AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno in Sunrise, Florida, contributed to this report. ___ AP NHL:
New York Post
42 minutes ago
- New York Post
Knicks lost ‘swagger' when they traded Donte DiVincenzo: Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson thinks the Knicks need their swagger back. The Hall of Famer believes New York lost its toughness and edge after trading Donte DiVincenzo to the Timberwolves in the Karl-Anthony Towns deal, which he believes cost the team in the Eastern Conference finals against the Pacers. 'The swagger left the Knicks when [DiVincenzo] got traded, and they don't have that swagger again,' Johnson said on ESPN's 'Get Up' on Thursday. 'See, they got nice guys, but they don't have tough, mean guys, and that's what Donte brought to the table.' Advertisement 3 Donte DiVincenzo with the Knicks in the second round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Johnson said DiVincenzo would have been a perfect answer to Indiana's depth and physicality, which seemingly wore out the Knicks' top-heavy roster over the six-game series. 'I love what Donte brought from the bench when he came on the floor, and New York Knicks fans loved him because he was tough, he was mean, but also he could score,' Johnson said. Advertisement In his one season in New York, DiVincenzo proved to be a volume scorer when needed, with no better example than last season's second-round series against the Pacers, when the Villanova product stepped up to average 22.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists. DiVincenzo's role in that series was elevated with the Knicks ravaged by injury, but the shooting guard was a key offensive contributor all year, and he averaged a career-high 15.5 points in the regular season. 3 Magic Johnson said he thinks 'the swagger left the Knicks' after Donte DiVincenzo was traded. @GetUpESPN/X Advertisement And the tough, mean persona Johnson speaks of was on display throughout the season, with DiVincenzo never afraid to get into it with opposing players and stand up for his teammates. That didn't stop Leon Rose and the Knicks from dealing DiVincenzo and Julius Randle to the Timberwolves for Towns last offseason — a move Johnson seems to think was a mistake, even if New York advanced to its first conference finals in 25 years behind the duo of KAT and Jalen Brunson. 3 The Knicks traded Donte Divincenzo to the Timberwolves as part of a deal for Karl-Anthony Towns. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST '[DiVincenzo] could get you 15 to 25 points when he came off that bench and they missed that, that contribution that he brought to the team,' Johnson added.
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
New York City FC scores 3 goals in 4 minutes to rout Atlanta United 4-0
NEW YORK (AP) — Hannes Wolf scored two goals for the second straight game, Maxi Moralez had a goal and an assist, and New York City FC beat Atlanta United 4-0 on Thursday night. Maxi Moralez scored from the corner of the 6-yard box in the 44th minute to give NYCFC a 1-0 lead. Then New York City (8-6-4) broke it open with three goals in four minutes. Mounsef Bakrar, moments after sending a breakaway shot off of Brad Guzan, had a one-touch finish at the penalty spot in the 55th for a 2-0 lead. Wolf slotted home a shot from a difficult angle in the 57th for a 3-0 lead. He added a goal on a one-on-one opportunity with Guzan, who got a touch on it before it rolled into the back of the net. Atlanta (4-9-5) has struggled on the road, registering just one draw and five defeats in its last five away matches. Atlanta was looking for its first road win over NYCFC in their regular-season history. Tomás Romero got his first MLS start in goal for NYCFC — with several first-team players away on international duty. Ronny Deila, who managed NYCFC from 2020 to '22, faced his former team on the road for the first time. ___ AP soccer:
