In a surprising development, Mark Jackson, the renowned NBA analyst, has spoken up for the first time after his unexpected departure from ESPN Monday morning.
Taking to social media, Jackson conveyed his gratitude to his colleagues at ESPN, including Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Lisa Salters, Tim Corrigan, and others. In addition, he extended his best wishes to those who will be succeeding him on the ESPN platforms.
Mark Jackson’s time at ESPN comes to an end
ESPN‘s decision to let Jackson go on Monday came as a shock to many. Jackson had been a cornerstone of ESPN’s NBA coverage for close to a decade and a half. Unfortunately, this illustrious stint has now come to an end. In the wake of his departure, the network has appointed former Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers and Doris Burke, a seasoned ESPN basketball commentator, as Jackson and Van Gundy’s replacements.
Initially, ESPN contemplated forming a team with Jackson and Mark Jones for its secondary NBA coverage. However, the exceptional performance of JJ Redick and Richard Jefferson as NBA game commentators prompted the network to reconsider, according to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post.
This decision pushed Mark Jackson into a potential backburner role on ESPN’s NBA coverage team. Adding to his challenges, the network felt that he performed best when paired with Van Gundy.
Given this perspective, it seemed likely that Jackson’s tenure would end soon after the network released Van Gundy on June 30. Jackson, a former NBA point guard, first teamed up with Breen and Van Gundy between 2006 and 2011.
Van Gundy and Jackson have now both been dismissed
After his stint as head coach of the Golden State Warriors came to an end in 2014, Jackson returned to ESPN. The trio of Breen, Van Gundy, and Jackson provided NBA commentary on ESPN for nine years. Unfortunately, this iconic broadcasting team’s time together has come to an abrupt end.
