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Mark Jackson's role in the Golden State Warriors' rise is often overlooked, but NBA legend Isiah Thomas credited him with changing the game of basketball.
Recently on the "ALL THE SMOKE" podcast, the Hall of Famer said:
"The guy who doesn't credit for changing the game, and this so-called 'evolution of the game' – his name would be coach Mark Jackson. ... Mark Jackson saw a guy by the name of Steph Curry and a guy by the name of Klay Thompson, and Mark Jackson as a coach made it acceptable – he made it acceptable – for Steph Curry and Klay to shoot from that range.
"People always shot from that range. They just didn't do it as part of their offensive schemes. Mark Jackson solely accepted Steph and Klay shooting from that distance, from that range, during crucial parts of the game.
"When we came up and when we were playing, our coaches, that wasn't acceptable to shoot from that distance or play that way. It just wasn't acceptable. Mark Jackson, alone, accepted and when he accepted, that changed the game. Steph Curry, Klay Thompson would not be Steph Curry and Klay Thompson getting credit for evolution if there wasn't a teacher and a master saying, 'You can do that.'"
Check out Isiah Thomas' full comments on Mark Jackson below:
Mark Jackson spent three years as the coach of the Golden State Warriors. After the team finished 23-43 in his first season, he led them to a 47-35 season followed by a 51-31 season. He finished in the top 10 of the Coach of the Year voting in each of his last two seasons; however, was fired following a first-round postseason exit.
Colin Cowherd praises the Golden State Warriors' season
The Golden State Warriors (42-38) and looking to lock up a top six seed in the Western Conference. Colin Cowherd, host of "The Herd," recently praised the defending champions:
"The Warriors, if they won this year, with an aging Steph [Curry], on the heels of the Draymond [Green] punch to Jordan Poole, which inflamed the locker room, with Klay [Thompson] having a bizarrely good resurgence to his career when we thought the best days were over, with Andrew Wiggins missing 40-plus games, being the worst road team to ever make the playoffs, that's a '30 for 30.'
"That's a movie script. That's great for sports. You could call it 'From the Punch to the Playoffs.' What the Warriors have done this year is remarkable. It's full of different storylines and drama and conflict. ... They weren't rooting for that stuff, but they support their guys. Culture matters. Have your guys back, don't worry about the salary cap. If you've got to pay a little more, pay a little more to keep the band together."
Check out Colin Cowherd's full comments on the Golden State Warriors below:
While the Warriors have not been afraid to add talent via free agency or the draft, their core is largely homegrown. The trio of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are looking to win their fifth title in nine seasons.
Guess the Lakers players!
