Has Steve Kerr been basking in the glory of a foundation built by someone else? That question still lingers for a good chunk of Golden State Warriors fans who watched Steph Curry and company evolve into basketball royalty. And if we’re being honest, it all started under the guidance of Mark Jackson. No, he didn’t capture a title. But let’s rewind to what the Warriors were before he stepped in back in 2011—just two winning seasons and one playoff appearance between 1994 and 2012. But then came Jackson, and suddenly things started looking up. He led a young, energetic Warriors squad to the Western Conference semi-finals, exceeding all expectations. It was an impressive leap for a team still figuring things out. So naturally, the big question follows—why on earth was Jackson shown the door?

While that decision continues to be a topic of debate, someone else is more heartbroken than confused—New York Knicks superfan Spike Lee. For Spike, it’s not just about the past. He can’t wrap his head around why Jackson, a coach who helped lay the bricks for a dynasty, still hasn’t gotten another shot in the NBA. The firing happened in 2014, and Warriors majority owner Joe Lacob attributed it to Jackson’s strained relationships within the organization and his assistant coaching choices. Even if that holds some truth, it doesn’t fully explain the doors that have stayed closed since then. And Spike didn’t hold back when he appeared on the Boardroom to talk about it.

“Why can’t he get another job in the NBA… It pains me,” Lee said to Rich Kleiman, co-founder of Thirty Five Ventures. Kleiman not only agreed but went further, suggesting that Jackson became trapped in a narrative that’s been unfairly carried forward for years. “How many years ago was that? It’s still going on?… He laid the foundation… I love Steve Kerr… But he [Mark] laid the foundation for that team,” Lee added. Kleiman backed that up by crediting Jackson for giving Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green the early confidence they needed to become who they are today.

Well, under Jackson, the Warriors more than doubled their win total from the previous year. That was also when Steph Curry and Klay Thompson began transforming into the unstoppable shooting duo that fans came to know as the Splash Brothers. Then came the addition of Andre Iguodala that offseason, injecting veteran experience into a young, promising core before Jackson’s third year at the helm.

Of course, credit is due to the Warriors’ front office for smart drafting. But let’s not ignore what the players themselves have said about Jackson’s impact. As Iguodala put it back in 2019: “He was the ultimate players’ coach. He was one of my favorite coaches of all-time. Come in, compete, play hard and then he was going to put you in the best position to get the most money.”

Jackson may not have lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy, but his fingerprints are all over Golden State’s rise. And with supporters like Spike Lee and former players still vouching for him, fans can’t help but wonder—will he ever get the second chance he so clearly deserves? However, it’s not as if Jackson could not have added more to his coaching resume than just his stint with the GSW. But it turns out, he had reservations of his own.

Why didn’t Larry Bird think Mark Jackson could coach the Pacers?

When Rick Carlisle returned to the Indiana Pacers as head coach, it felt like the franchise had its stability back. And honestly, things looked promising—his first season ended with a league-best 61–21 record. For a moment, it seemed like Indiana had figured things out. But if you remember the chaos that followed, you know how quickly things unraveled. The Malice at the Palace in 2004 didn’t just shake up one night—it sent shockwaves through the following seasons. The team battled injuries, suspensions, and all sorts of off-court drama.

By the time the 2006-07 campaign wrapped up, the Pacers had fallen hard, finishing 35–47 and missing the playoffs for the first time in ten years. That was the final straw for Larry Bird. Carlisle had to go. Naturally, the team began hunting for a fresh leader. And you’d think someone like Mark Jackson—a former Pacer and respected voice—would be a frontrunner. But surprisingly, he took himself out of the running before things even got going.

“What happened last year, we were in the process of getting names down on a list, and Mark made a statement he couldn’t work for two guys in control,” Bird once said, as per an article by Yahoo Sports. “Well, I was going to be there [with Donnie Walsh]. So that eliminated him as we were compiling the list. It probably wasn’t the right thing to say. We would’ve interviewed him, but we both were going to be there, and he didn’t want two bosses.”

It’s wild how one comment can close a door before it even opens. Jackson may have had the pedigree, but his stance on leadership structure ended the conversation before it started. Had he not been rigid about his demands, we could’ve seen more of Mark Jackson as a coach even before he helmed Steph Curry & Co.’s journey for three seasons. Now, it’s time to see if Spike Lee’s questions can bring Jackson back into discussions as a coach.