Stephen Curry: ‘Mark Jackson deserves to be our coach next year’
Upon elimination from the 2014 NBA Playoffs, Stephen Curry has wasted no time to speak support for head coach Mark Jackson, advocating the third-year coaches return as his job security is up in the air for next season.
“I love Coach more than anybody. And I think for him to be in a situation where his job is under scrutiny and under question is totally unfair. And it would definitely be a shock to me if anything like that were to happen. I’m going to voice my support for Coach, if you’ve got anybody that asks me about it all summer.”
“He deserves to be our coach next year and we’re going to come back and build off the momentum we’ve gained in the last three years and continue to grow as a team. I want Coach Jackson to be that guy leading us.” (via Mercury News)
Many are confused as to why Jackson isn’t a guaranteed return for the 2014-15 season. During his three years as the head coach, the Golden State Warriors have improved every year from a win-loss standpoint, going from 23 to 47 to 51 wins in the given time span. But for many others that isn’t enough. Those increase in wins came as the talent on the roster improved considerably. Curry has transformed into a superstar, Klay Thompson is one of the best up-and-coming two-guards in the league, Andrew Bogut has proved to be a formidable piece when he’s healthy and with the addition of Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala, by way of draft and free-agency, they’ve formed one of the more entertaining teams in the league.
But this same core makes some wish for more. Despite injuries, this team should be higher than a sixth seed. The gripe with the way the Warriors’ ran their offense squandered many possessions opting for post-ups rather than playing through Curry and Iguodala. Combine these issues with several problems such as turmoil within the coaching ranks — two assistant coaches fired during his tenure — and the front office not being completely sold of Jackson going forth and some may feel Jackson’s time as the head coach will come to an end soon.
Mark Jackson doesn't have one GSW front office ally who'll make a case to ownership to keep him. "He's on an island," league source says.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 4, 2014
Regardless of what we think, Curry knows who he wants at his side when the 2014-15 season hits.
“I don’t think we have (played the last game under him). I don’t think most of the guys in the locker room do, as well. Just leave it at that. Ready to come for training camp next year with Coach Jackson at the helm.”