Mark Jackson Reportedly Hints at Return to Broadcast Booth During NBA Playoffs

Fresh off being fired as the head coach of the Golden State Warriors, Mark Jackson may be looking for a diversion or two. According to the San Jose Mercury News' Tim Kawakami, that may entail a return to television.

Jackson worked with ABC as a game analyst during telecasts prior to his stint as a head coach with the Warriors. He also called games with the YES Network before deciding the commutes from Los Angeles were too much of a burden.

There's nothing stopping Jackson from opting for a long-term career in television again. Given the instability and stress associated with coaching gigs, some time behind the mic could be a welcome departure.

For now, it's unclear when or how Jackson's surprise will come to fruition.

He has a number of friends in the industry, so both ESPN and TNT seem like viable options. Jackson's previous work in the booth was solid, but he's an even more prominent face now that he has some coaching experience in the fold. Fans will likely appreciate his spirited commentary and the always valuable perspective of a guy who's been a player and coach alike.

Jackson certainly has the pedigree to succeed on TV. He even trademarked some catchphrases during he's previous work, including, "mama there goes that man" and "hand down, man down."

It wasn't exactly shocking that Jackson was fired by the Warriors, but the decision did prove somewhat controversial. The 49-year-old helped turn Golden State around in his three seasons as coach, and he was by all accounts beloved by his players.

SBNation's Paul Flannery referenced a column by the San Jose Mercury News' Marcus Thompson and even suggested, "There were a number of issues in the wake of Mark Jackson's dismissal as coach of the Golden State Warriors, but below the surface was a conversation about racial dynamics that few were willing to have."

But there were several problems from within the assistant coaching ranks, signs that Jackson was far better at managing his players than his own staff.

After the move, general manager Bob Myers said the following, according to the Los Angeles Times' Eric Pincus:

"

It’s never easy to make a decision of this nature. Mark has accomplished many good things during his three years with the organization, including his role in helping elevate this team into a better position than it was when he arrived nearly 36 months ago. We’re appreciative of his dedication and commitment since his arrival and are extremely grateful for his contributions. However, as an organization, we simply feel it’s best to move in a different direction at this time.

"

Jackson wasn't especially pleased with how things were handled, according to ESPN.com's Ethan Sherwood Strauss:

"

The unfortunate thing is I go in an office with an owner and a general manager, just us three, and while in our office it's tweeted out that I'm in a meeting and I'm about to be fired. That's not how you conduct business. And if that's how business relationships are supposed to be done, well then they're 100 percent right, I did not conduct business the right way if that's the right way. And that's unfortunate.

"

The Warriors have subsequently hired TNT analyst Steve Kerr to lead the team.