MIAMI, FL – JUNE 02: ESPN NBA analyst Mark Jackson looks on before Game Two of the 2011 NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena between the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks on June 2, 2011 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
By Harry Lyles Jr. on

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During the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets game Sunday afternoon on ABC, the broadcasting crew of Mike Breen, Mark Jackson, and Jeff Van Gundy took a moment to discuss the topic that ruled the NBA for a week. We’re speaking of course about D’Angelo Russell and Nick Young.

Jackson saw a great opportunity to take a shot at a former assistant of his, that had Jeff Van Gundy laughing out loud.

“The good news for [Russell] is, he very well one day could be an associated head coach in this league,” Jackson said.

The backstory? It was most definitely a shot at Jackson’s former assistant at Golden State, Darren Erman, who was fired by the team in April of 2014 for a “violation of company policy.” It was later revealed by Chris Broussard that it had to do with Erman recording conversations between coaches and players in secret.

Russell similarly recorded Nick Young talking about cheating on Iggy Azalea, his fiancée.

Erman quickly landed on his feet with the Boston Celtics, becoming their director of scouting. He then went to New Orleans to become an associate head coach for Alvin Gentry, which was the reference Jackson made in regards to Russell.

Jackson was eventually fired by the Warriors, and told the NBA’s Sirius XM radio station back in May of 2014 that the only fault he made was in hiring Erman:

“As far as assistants, you have to pick people who are loyal and dedicated. It’s inexcusable what the second assistant [Erman] did. That cannot be tolerated. For folks to say, two situations, it’s obviously documented that they both were 100 percent wrong. The only fault I got is hiring those guys. I would use wisdom in who is around me.”

While it revealed that there’s still definitely some uneasiness in how his tenure at Golden State ended, that was a pretty clever and quick jab that Jackson took, which was missed by many that were watching the game.

[Washington Post]

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About Harry Lyles Jr.

Harry Lyles Jr. is an Atlanta-based writer, and a Georgia State University graduate.

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