Shaquille O'Neal shares post linking Mark Jackson with New York Knicks head coach gig

The New York Knicks fell short in returning to the NBA Finals for the first time in decades. Tom Thibodeau turned them into a playoff-caliber team, but that's not seemingly enough for this organization and they surprisingly pulled the plug on him.

Now, with the Knicks looking for a suitable replacement, it seems like Shaquille O'Neal and Stephen A. Smith both agree on one thing: Mark Jackson should draw some strong consideration.

O'Neal shared a post on his Instagram story that had Smith making a case for the Knicks to give their former point guard a call:

Via Shaquille O'Neal's IG

"Stephen A. Smith wants the Knicks to look at Mark Jackson: 'This man was responsible for building Golden State before Steve Kerr was brought in and took over and piggybacked off of that.'"

Jackson has often been credited with being the architect behind the Golden State Warriors' dynasty, but he hasn't been seriously considered for another head coaching position since he was let go a decade ago.

He's served as an analyst and podcast host, and several people within the industry seem to believe that he's being blackballed.

The Knicks are targeting two sitting coaches

There have been no reports about the Knicks' potential interest in Jackson. According to a report by Shams Charania of ESPN, they've requested permission to speak to two sitting coaches.

"The New York Knicks requested permission to speak to Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch and Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka for their head coaching job, but were denied on both, sources tell ESPN. Knicks could request permission for other current head coaches, too," Charania wrote on X.

Even if any of those teams were to allow this unusual request, the Knicks would most likely have to give up several assets to acquire their services. It's been a while since we last saw a coach being traded, and this speaks volumes about the Knicks' determination to get to the next level.

Reports indicate they could also set their sights on Dallas Mavericks' coach Jason Kidd, who also played for the Knicks in the final stretch of his career.

The Knicks have a strong core that should remain competitive for years, but now that they've seemingly entered 'championship or bust' territory, it'll be crucial to find the right coach.