The Golden State Warriors have fired Mark Jackson, ending the franchise’s most successful coaching tenure in the past two decades.
General manager Bob Myers thanked Jackson in a statement Tuesday for “his role in helping elevate this team into a better position than it was when he arrived nearly 36 months ago.”
Myers said it was a difficult decision but that the Warriors “simply feel it’s best to move in a different direction at this time.”
“Thanks to the Warriors organization for the opportunity you gave me,” Jackson said in a statement sent to ESPN. “Thanks to the great fans for all of your support!! Thank you to my players!! Who I love!! We accomplished a lot together!! I wish you all nothing but the best! God bless.”
Jackson went 121-109 in three seasons with the Warriors, a stint that will be remembered for the way he helped turn a perennially losing franchise into a consistent winner and the bold, bombastic way in which he did it.
He guaranteed Golden State would make the playoffs in his first season, but the Warriors finished 23-43 after the NBA labor lockout. They went 47-35 last season and had a memorable run to the second round of the playoffs, and they were 51-31 this season before losing to the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round.
The Warriors had not made the playoffs in consecutive years since the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons. They had made the playoffs once in 17 years before Jackson.
Information from Espn.com and The Associated Press contributed to this report.