Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson played down rumors suggesting that he is considering leaving his post to take other head coaching jobs because of his tumultuous relationship with the team's top brass.
Jackson told CSN Bay Area that he never showed interest in coaching other teams, insisting that Yahoo Sports insider Adrian Wojnarowski's report is complete inaccurate.
Wojnarowski reported that Jackson was considering leaving the Bay Area for several interested teams, which reportedly include the Los Angeles Clippers and the Brooklyn Nets.
Reports also indicated that Jackson, who allegedly forced the reassignment of assistant coach Brian Scalabrine, had a strained relationship with former Warriors assistant coach Mike Malone.
"I'm not going to comment on everything," Jackson said. "First of all, Mike Malone commented and said that his part was a lie. So there you have that. Second of all, it's poor reporting by Wojnarowski."
Sacramento Kings coach Malone, for his part, also refuted Wojnarowski's report, saying that he had a great relationship with Jackson in his two years in Golden State, and the two of them still enjoy a good relationship.
"I will say this: I had two great years in Golden State," Malone told the Sacramento Bee. "I consider myself a very small part of the success we had last year. As for one thing that has been reported, Mark Jackson and I still have a relationship."
Jackson, who is coaching in his third season, has led the Warriors to an impressive 44-27 record this season, and are currently sixth in the Western Conference race.
Despite the success the Warriors had in the last two years, rumors suggested that the reported turmoil could lead to Jackson's firing, but Jackson insisted that he is not bothered by talks about his future in Golden State.
"I don't pay attention to it," Jackson said, via Sporting News. "I really don't. I have a tough enough job being a husband, a father, a pastor, a coach, a friend, a son, an uncle. It's a good life. I worry about it when they don't talk about me."
