Former ESPN analyst Mark Jackson smiles before the game between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on February 25, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 110-107. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
*Mark Jackson denies a New York Post report that he was booted from his Knicks’ TV gig because the team refused to let him on their chartered flights.
According to the former Knicks point guard, the truth is that he turned the team down instead, nj.com reports.
“[On Wednesday], a report came out that I was fired or dismissed from calling Knick games,” Jackson wrote on social media. “Honored and privileged to have an offer bestowed upon me to back up the legend Walt Clyde Frazier, calling Knick games.
“Over a week ago, I turned that job down. You heard what I said: More than a week ago, I turned the job down due to the fact that it wasn’t the ideal conditions, and it wasn’t the ideal time for me,” Jackson explained.
“You never know what the future holds,” he added.
Mark Jackson on IG: “Come on man. Come on. At some point, the lies have got to stop. The lies have got to stop.
“I’ve sat back year after year after year, listening to lies, questioning me as a man and my integrity for what I stand for, what I was raised on That’s been… pic.twitter.com/g44oQJIhZg
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) November 16, 2023
MSG Network tapped Jackson to fill in for former Knicks player Walt Frazier on road broadcasts. Next season, Frazier, 78, plans to reduce his travel schedule, The Cold Wire reports. Jackson worked at ESPN for over a decade before he was laid off this summer.
The New York Post reported Wednesday that Jackson would not serve as a part-time fill-in for Frazier because of a dispute with current Knicks assistant Darren Erman.
When Jackson was the head coach of the Golden State Warriors, Erman served as an assistant but was fired by Jackson in 2014 for “secretly recording conversations involving Jackson and his players,” ESPN reported, the Post writes.
According to one insider, Jackson accepted the job with MSG Network but backed out after the Knicks refused to allow him to travel on the team plane.
“If the other broadcasters are on the plane, why can’t he fly on the plane?” one NBA insider asked.
Another insider added: “I don’t think they really wanted him. They probably offered and then attached all kinds of things to the job.”
READ MORE: Mark Jackson Eyeing New Broadcasting Gig
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