Just when it seemed like the Minnesota Timberwolves were going to decide between Tom Thibodeau and Jeff Van Gundy for their coaching vacancy, another candidate has entered the mix. Jon Krawczynski of the Associated Press is reporting the Timberwolves will interview Van Gundy’s work colleague over at ESPN, Mark Jackson.
AP Source: The Timberwolves will interview former Warriors coach and ESPN analyst Mark Jackson for the coaching job
— Jon Krawczynski (@APkrawczynski) April 19, 2016
Jackson was 121-109 as coach of the Golden State Warriors with two playoff appearances until he was fired in 2014 and replaced by another former TV analyst, Steve Kerr. One year later after Jackson was fired, the Warriors won a championship.
But as CBS’ Zach Harper writes, Thibodeau and Van Gundy would be better served over Jackson.
Of the three possibilities here, Jackson is the least successful and worst option available. While he did some good things in helping turn the Warriors around, his attitude and paranoia clashed with what Joe Lacob and the front office were trying to build there. Jackson often reacted in an odd, defensive way when his assistant coaches were given credit for work and development they were actually doing. And that caused rifts throughout the coaching staff until they were either reassigned to the D-League (like Brian Scalabrine) or outright terminated (like Darren Erman who was caught recording conversations).
It’s good the Timberwolves are keeping their options open and doing their homework before hiring a coach, but it seems like they already had two very good candidates to pick from with Thibodeau and Van Gundy. But we’ll see if Jackson’s interview does anything to sway the front office.
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