Stephen A. Smith Advocates for Mark Jackson as Knicks Head Coach

NEW YORK, NY — ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith publicly endorsed Mark Jackson as the next head coach of the New York Knicks during a segment on “First Take” on June 9, 2025. With the Knicks searching for a new leader after the firing of Tom Thibodeau, Smith highlighted Jackson’s credentials and roots in New York.

Jackson, who played for the Knicks from 1987 to 1992, is known for his coaching tenure with the Golden State Warriors from 2011 to 2014. Smith stated, “I’m gonna always mention the name Mark Jackson, because he’s been away from the game for a decade as a coach. This man was responsible for building Golden State before Steve Kerr came in and piggybacked off of that.”

Smith emphasized Jackson’s local ties, claiming he could be a strong voice for the team amid criticism of current team owner James Dolan and president Leon Rose. “He’s a native, so a voice for the New York Knicks, where we ain’t got to worry about hearing from James Dolan, who hides from us, or Leon Rose, the president, who hides from us,” Smith said.

While Jackson’s name is put forward, Smith acknowledged the Knicks may also consider other candidates like Jason Kidd and Mike Malone. The Knicks are faced with a significant offseason as they not only look for a new coach but also deal with potential changes in player personnel.

The team is currently navigating free agency and is likely to lose at least one key player, Precious Achiuwa, who averaged 6.6 points this past season. Achiuwa expressed dissatisfaction with his playing time under Thibodeau and may not return.

The Knicks made the playoffs four times in five years under Thibodeau, achieving their first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in over two decades. The next head coach will be expected to build on this success and bring the team back to championship contention, a status the Knicks have not held since 1973.