Rick Pitino endorses former Knicks star

BY ALEJANDRO LOPEZ

One of the NBA’s largest developing stories is the coaching vacancy of the New York Knicks, and while there has been no clear candidate for the job so far, St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino believes he has an answer.

Pitino endorsed former St. John’s and New York Knicks point guard Mark Jackson for the head coaching job on Wednesday via X.

I obviously coached our rookie of the year, Mark Jackson. I believe he spent 18 years in the NBA as a player. Great coach with the Warriors and one of the brightest minds I've coached. Would love to see the Knicks bring Mark Jackson home!!

— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) June 11, 2025

The Brooklyn native’s last head coaching job was with the Golden State Warriors in 2014, one season before the Warriors won the first of four championships in the next seven years.

After firing Tom Thibodeau shortly after their elimination at the hands of the Indiana Pacers, the Knicks’ head coaching search has mostly consisted of coaches who are already under contract by other teams.

The organization has reached out to the Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Dallas Mavericks with a request to interview coaches Ime Udoka, Chris Finch and Jason Kidd, respectively, with each of those teams quickly denying their request.

That leaves the door wide open for any potential candidate to secure the head coaching job with the Knicks and many are hoping it could mean Mark Jackson’s return to his first coaching job in over a decade.

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