Golden State Warriors: Why Firing Mark Jackson Was the Wrong Move

Apr 21, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson looks on during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers in game two during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

The Golden State Warriors have officially fired Mark Jackson. Some of the criticism about his coaching was justified, and Jackson wasn’t a perfect coach. However, firing him was the wrong decision for this team.

Perhaps the most important reason why firing Jackson was not a smart move was that he received unwavering support from the players. The Warriors’ players have the utmost respect for him, they listened to him, they trusted him fully, and they believed that he would guide them to play their best. Often, motivating a team and getting them to buy into a system and a coach’s methods can be the hardest part of coaching, and this was one of Jackson’s strengths.

Coach Jackson brought out the best in his players, partially because he was very open and honest with them. Jackson’s influence could also be seen in how relaxed the team was in Game 7, how confident they were throughout the season and in the playoffs, and how the players didn’t fear the big moment.

In fact, based on his fine work with the Warriors last season and his impact on the team’s chemistry, both Andre Iguodala and Jermaine O’Neal wanted to sign with the Warriors last offseason. The Warriors could’ve potentially persuaded big-name free agents to sign with them this summer because of Coach Jackson’s reputation around the league and his player-friendly coaching style.

All the players were vocal about their support for Coach Jackson, especially Stephen Curry. He badly wanted Jackson to remain the head coach, and Curry spoke about his love for Coach Jackson to Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle after Game 7.

"“What Coach has gone through this year has been unlike anything I’ve seen – just the amount of distractions, the circus that has been around him and the decisions he has had to make,” Warriors point guard Stephen Curry said. “I love Coach more than anybody. For him to be in a position where his job is under scrutiny and under questions is totally unfair.“It would definitely be a shock to me if anything like (a firing) would happen. I’m definitely going to voice my support for Coach to anybody that asks me all summer.“He deserves to be our coach next year, and we’re going to come back and build off of the momentum we’ve gained over the past three years and continue to grow as a team. I want Coach Jackson to be that guy leading us.”"

The Warriors should’ve listened to Curry, because he’s the face of the franchise and a fan favorite. Curry is the ultimate professional and will adjust to a new head coach, but it’s not smart for the Warriors to start to ignore their superstar. It’s unlikely Curry will get so upset that he’ll want to leave the team, but the Warriors definitely need to involve him in the process of hiring a new head coach.

Whoever they hire to be the new head coach will be Curry’s fourth head coach in just six seasons. Curry will play hard for anyone and could succeed in many systems, but it seems slightly unfair to make him adjust to yet another new coach and new system.

Apr 24, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob reacts after a call against the Los Angeles Clippers during the fourth quarter of game three of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Golden State Warriors 98-96. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

In addition to upsetting the players by firing Jackson, the Warriors could potentially hurt themselves in terms of on-the-court production. Jackson certainly could’ve improved on his rotations, play-calling, and decision-making. However, if they don’t find the right replacement, some players might struggle adjusting to a new system or having to play a new system in general.

Joe Lacob has a “win now” mindset, and he wants immediate success, which Jackson apparently didn’t bring. He needs to understand that in the NBA, success is long-term not short-term. Look at Oklahoma City. It takes time to develop a core of players and a coach’s system. Jackson had to improve on some aspects of his coaching, but he wasn’t given the opportunity to build on the success he developed.

It seems as if Jackson’s “strained” relationship with management was one of the main reasons why he was fired, which is just unfair. Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group agreed with this statement in a recent article that he wrote before Jackson was fired.

"“Logic says work to fix his weaknesses instead of starting over. It would be a shame if the playoff streak has to end because of office politics.”"

Thompson also made a good point in that same article when he said:

"“But just as Jackson is responsible for his locker room, management is responsible for the team.”"

Lacob and Myers will need to make some changes to the roster in the offseason, so it’s also their duty to make this team better and put them in a better situation to succeed.

For such a risky move, in terms of disappointing players and fans, the Warriors better back up firing Jackson by hiring a fantastic new head coach. Joe Lacob and Bob Myers are incredibly smart people, so they’ll do their best to find the best possible coach out there for this team. They have to hope though that the risks involved with this decision pay off and that ultimately the benefits will outweigh the costs.

Not all personnel moves are going to be liked by everyone in the organization and all of the fans, and that’s fine. Lacob and Myers’ jobs aren’t necessarily about making everyone happy, but they have to make sure they hire not just a good coach but a great coach that they know will fluorish. If not, this situation could get really ugly, really fast.

Firing Mark Jackson won’t completely shatter the organization. The Warriors still have an immense amount of talent, and they can potentially contend for a title next season. It all comes down to if Lacob and Myers hire the right coach though, and if that head coach can lead the Warriors to more wins next season than this season.

One last thought, thanks to Mark Jackson for bringing the Warriors out of irrelevance and making them a legitimate threat in the Western Conference. He instilled an effective defensive system, and he brought a winning mentality to the Warriors. He truly changed the culture, and he should be greatly commended for that.