Mark Jackson on gay players: ‘Not in my locker room’

There have been several reasons to come out on why Mark Jackson was fired by the Golden State Warriors, his relationship with the front office flailing, not being able to get along with his assistant coaches, etc., but his thoughts on a homosexual basketball player being apart of his team may have had a hand in his dismissal.

From SF Bay:

"According to the SF Bay report, Jackson was asked about the possibility of adding several different big men to the roster. Brian Scalabrine’s name was mentioned and everyone involved had a good laugh.Collins name was then brought up. Mark Jackson reportedly responded:“Not in my locker room.”"

Jackson’s views are far from shocking. While he isn’t the only religious person in the NBA, he makes his religious affiliation known, often citing God in press conferences, interviews, and during game huddles. But this leaking from Jackson is a bad look on him, especially considering the President and Chief of Operations for the Golden State Warriors in Rick Welts is openly homosexual, first publicly revealing his sexual orientation in 2011.

From the New York Times:

"Last month, in a Midtown office adorned with sports memorabilia, two longtime friends met for a private talk. David Stern, the commissioner of the National Basketball Association, sipped his morning coffee, expecting to be asked for career advice. Across from him sat Rick Welts, the president and chief executive of the Phoenix Suns, who had come to New York not to discuss careers, but to say, finally, I am gay."

Welts’ announce made him the first prominent American sports executive to be openly gay.

There is no doubt that Jackson isn’t the only person in the NBA that holds views similar to this, but unlike those people, they didn’t make their stance public nor make the act of homosexuality sound like the plague.

Following the release of the story that paints the comment onto Jackson, the ESPN commentator said this on his Twitter account.

It’ll be interesting seeing if these words, if found true, will affect Jackson’s chances of landing another head coaching job.