All along, Stephen Curry wanted the Golden State Warriors to keep Mark Jackson – a man he absolutely loves as a coach, a friend and a mentor in life. He blossomed into a borderline superstar in two seasons under Jackson and went to the playoffs both times after failing to do so in his first three seasons.
There was simply too much drama surrounding Jackson and the front office, though, and the coach had to be fired against the wishes of their franchise player. Curry has been silent since the firing, but finally opened up about it publicly, from Marcus Thompson of Mercury News:
“It’s difficult, but it’s good to know what the next direction is,” said Curry, who hasn’t spoken publicly since Jackson was fired. “It’s still kind of stressful knowing how it all went down.”
[…]
“I’ve heard it wasn’t as good as it seems,” Curry said. “But that’s so far from my perception of coach and the reality I dealt with every day. From my dealings with him, I just don’t see him that way.
“I heard a lot of different explanations and reasons. I heard the positions on why management and the front office wanted to make a change. I can’t say I agree agree with all of them, but I know what they wet thinking and I understand where they are coming from.”
[…]
Curry said he would prefer if ties were severed and that was it. But he admitted it stings to hear the way people talk about Jackson. It feels a bit excessive.
“It’s definitely frustrating for that to be the narrative about coach,” Curry said. “We accomplished a lot. We’ve done things this franchise hasn’t done in a long time. Management, coach and us players had parts in that.”
Curry pretty much would have run through a wall for Jackson, so his frustration and disbelief of the narrative since the firing is understandable. That said, make no mistake that the point guard is excited about the hiring of Steve Kerr:
“I just want to see him build that relationship with the players,” Curry said. “To be able to get the most out of us. To challenge us. Pushing us to a higher level. And I don’t think he’ll have a problem with that. We’re in good hands. I’m not worried about that. He just has to develop his coaching style. I agree with the decision (to hire Kerr).”
Mark Jackson also commented on his former team’s acquisition of Kerr, from Tim Kawakami of Mercury News: ”
Q: Your thoughts on the Warriors hiring Kerr? Think he fits what they wanted when they dismissed you?
-JACKSON: I have no thoughts either way. Congratulations to him. Wish him the best. He’s inherited a great team with a great future.
And they are a championship-caliber team. Wish them nothing but the best.
-Q: Do you suspect they wanted Kerr maybe even before they fired you?
-JACKSON: I don’t pay any attention to that. What are you going to do with that?
-Q: Have you read or heard anything that Lacob or Kerr have said the last few days? The Warriors sure are making it clear they’re looking for something different.
-JACKSON: Haven’t read it to be quite honest.
Ultimately, there’s no question that they’re a very good team. It’s documented that they should be a top-seed, documented they should be in the mix for the West, and they’re only going to get better.
It’s a great team. I wish nothing but the best for them.
Kawakami did his best to stir things up, but Jackson, as usual, didn’t take the bait. He did, however, explain why he wore the suit he wore in his final game:
One thing I will say I did not… Somebody said–maybe it was you–that I was wearing the black suit (for Game 7) to say that I was getting whacked.
-Q: That was not me. I said it was not about your situation.
-JACKSON: Well, somebody said that and it’s not true. I wore it because ‘somebody’s getting whacked,’ meaning the Clippers.
To say ‘I’m getting whacked?’ Why would I do that? It had nothing to do with that.
STERLING FIGHTS BACK:
It’s no secret that Donald Sterling wasn’t going down without a major fight, and he is already taking some strong actions, from Michael McCann of SI:
SI.com has learned that Donald Sterling has hired prominent antitrust litigator Maxwell Blecher, who has written a letter to NBA executive vice president and general counsel Rick Buchanan threatening to sue the NBA. The letter, sources tells SI.com, claims that Sterling has done nothing wrong and that “no punishment is warranted” for Sterling. Blecher also tells Buchanan that Sterling will not pay the $2.5 million fine, which is already past due. Blecher ends the letter by saying this controversy “will be adjudicated.”
“We reject your demand for payment,” the letter tells Buchanan, who on May 14 informed Sterling by letter that he must pay the $2.5 million fine.
Belcher’s letter goes on to identify two basic legal defenses for Sterling.
First, Blecher claims that Sterling has not violated any article of the NBA constitution. The letter curiously references Article 35, which governs players’ misconduct, and several other provisions. The NBA is expected to argue that Sterling violated Article 13(d). This provision bars owners from violating contractual obligations, including the obligation that owners no engage in unethical conduct or take positions adverse to the NBA. Blecher does not detail how he intends to prove Sterling’s racist remarks captured on the secret recording — followed by Sterling’s incendiary remarks about Magic Johnson — do not give rise to unethical conduct or positions adverse to the NBA.
Second, Blecher argues that Sterling’s “due process rights” have been violated by the NBA. A due process claim may sound superficially reasonable. After all, Sterling was banned permanently from the NBA after a mere four-day investigation, without any formal proceedings. If the NBA were a federal agency or a state college, Sterling might have a good argument, as those are public entities that must provide safeguards found under the U.S. Constitution and state constitutions. The problem for Sterling is that the NBA is a private association and is not required to provide due process rights. Sterling, moreover, contractually assented to the NBA’s system of justice through various contracts, including his franchise agreement to purchase the Clippers and the joint venture agreement, which indicates the NBA has binding authority over the teams.
Really? Sterling has done nothing wrong? Good luck trying to prove that one in court. I’m no lawyer, but based on the explanations provided by Blecher in his letter for rejecting the punishments from the NBA, it doesn’t sound too good for Sterling, even if he tries to drag this thing out for as long as he possibly can.
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