Stephen A's Take: Stephen A gives passionate and critical commentary on the New York Knicks' current coaching situation.

Stephen A. Smith is a New York Times Bestselling Author, Executive Producer, host of ESPN's First Take, and co-host of NBA Countdown. 

🎙️ Main Themes in the Script

1. Coaching Search Chaos:

   • The Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau after reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.
   • Multiple teams (Mavericks, Timberwolves, Rockets, Bulls, Hawks) denied the Knicks permission to interview their head coaches.
   • The Knicks appear to lack a clear plan for a replacement.

2. Criticism of Potential Candidates:

   • Quin Snyder: Acknowledged as a good coach, but not seen as a strong enough replacement for Thibodeau.
   • Billy Donovan: Respected, but not the right fit for the Knicks at this time.
   • Jason Kidd and Mike Malone: Not available or not even interviewed, raising questions.

3. Support for Mark Jackson:

   • Strong advocacy for Mark Jackson, citing his New York roots, coaching history with the Warriors, and broadcasting career.
   • Expresses frustration that Jackson hasn’t been given another coaching opportunity in over a decade.

4. Support for Sam Cassell:

   • Praised for his experience, championship pedigree, and ability to connect with players.
   • Seen as a viable and deserving candidate.

5. Critique of Knicks Leadership:

   • Questions about James Dolan’s influence and Leon Rose’s decision-making.
   • Suggests internal chaos and lack of direction within the organization.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Let's get to the New York Knicks and then search
for a new head coach, which doesn't appear to be
going well. By the way, the Knicks, who fired Tom
Thibodeaux after advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals, have been
turned down by several teams seeking to speak to their
head coach. According to multiple sources, the Mavericks denied the
ex permission to interview Jason Kidd. The Timberwolves did the

(00:24):
same with Chris Finch. The Rockets did the same with
Emy Udoka, The Bulls did the same with Billy Donovan,
and the Hawks did the same with Quinn Snyder. So
the situation looks disastrous for New York, who fired the
head coach that led them to the Eastern Conference Finals
without a plan. Here's my point, what the hell are
you doing calling Quinn Snyder? You let go of Tom Thibodeaux,

(00:46):
and your answer to New Yorkers was going to be
Quinn Snyder is the next head coach of this franchise.
Quinn Snyder, who by the way, knows basketball, who can coach.
I'm not trying to disrespect him in any way. I'm
just simply saying, what does he accomplished that's gonna make
you say, Okay, it's all right that Tims is going,
we got this guy now, because that's what you need
to do. When you got a coach that gotted you

(01:08):
to back to back fifty plus win seasons or fifty
win seasons and took you to within two games of
an NBA Finals, you're going to need to have somebody
bonafide in order to replace him, wouldn't you say? I'd
say so. Billy Donovan, two top national champion at Florida,
respect the hell out of that man. But in Oklahoma

(01:30):
City and then now in Chicago, he's not the answer
for the New York Knicks at this particular moment in time.
He's just not. He's just not. So I can understand
you reaching out to the email you dooka. You had
no chance till in Fati. They ain't letting that man
out of that contract with two years left on his deal.
He loves them. I understand you reaching out to other
coaches adjacent Kidd in Dallas, Mavericks weren't letting him go.

(01:53):
Anthony Davis is coming back, Kyrie Evan eventually coming back.
We are about they're about to draft Cooper flag Okay, no, no, no,
they ain't let Jason not happening. I'm still wondering why
they have it picked, or at least interviewed Mike Malone,
former coach with the Denver Nuggets, who won a championship
just a couple of years ago. What the hell is

(02:15):
that about? To not even talk to this man, to
not even interview this man knowing that he brings championship
credentials to the table. What's up with that? With all
of that being said, y'all know where I'm going. I'm
waiting for Mark Jackson to get the call. Hand down,

(02:36):
man down that dude. I'm waiting for a guy that
started Bishop Blacklan in Brooklyn, New York, that went to
Saint John's University and stood out, They got drafted by
the New York Knicks and was Rookie of the Year.
I'm talking about that Mark Jackson. I'm talking about Mark Jackson,

(02:57):
who was last seen as an outside a team member
of you know, the A team calling games on the
NBA for ESPN and ABC with Jeff Van Gundy. I'm
talking about that Mark Jackson. I'm talking about to Mark
Jackson that guided Steph Curry and Klay Thompson and Draymond

(03:17):
Green through the early parts of their career that set
the table for Steve Curdi capitalized on and ultimately become
a champion as a coach. How in God's name does
this man Mark Jackson, who's been out of coaching for
a decade, not even get a job in over a decade,
not even as a lead assistant. How does that happen?

(03:39):
I'm really really wondering about that. I really need to
understand that. And so I say all of that to
say to you, this guy, Mark Jackson, New York would
stand up and salute at such a decision without question.
He would be embraced by New Yorkers everywhere because we

(04:01):
all know he was a damn good coach, and we
all knows he deserves the opportunity. He doesn't deserve to
be blackball like it appears he's been blackballed. The other
name that I would throw out there is Sam Cassell,
lead assistant on the Boston Celtics. It's been an assistant
coach in various places, including Philadelphia and now Boston. He's

(04:24):
been a bevy of places. He has paid his dues.
By the way, he's a two time champion as a player.
He knows the game of basketball. He's in your face,
he's about holding you accountable. By the way, he also
won a championship with Boston if I remember correctly, with
KG and the Crew. Sam Cassell is special basketball mind

(04:47):
and incredibly incredibly relatable. The players will get in their face,
call them the hell out, and still have them hugging
him and saying let's go out to dinner. That's how
much love they got for him, in respect they have
for him. Sam Cassell has the credentials Mark Jackson or
Sam Cassel next head coach for the New York Knicks.
Why not? Why not? Because clearly the Knicks don't know
what the hell they're doing. Maybe it was Dolan that

(05:09):
forced Leon Rose to get rid of him, rid of
Tom Thibodeaux, even though he wasn't able to force Leon
Rose to do anything else. He gave leon Rose latitude
with everything else. Why would he have a heavy hand
when it comes to Thibodeaux? And if the players had
something to do with this, why did Leon Rose have
to capitulate to them? Is he not the president of
basketball operations? Where was Jalen Brunson going to go when

(05:30):
you got his boy, Michel Bridges, and you gotta call
Anthony Towns. You got another one of his boys in
Josh Hort. There Where was he gonna go. I don't
know what the hell's going on with the New York Knicks.
I just know that the way they're being talked about now,
just a couple of weeks after getting to the conference finals,
it's tantamount to how they were being talked about when

(05:50):
they were hot garbage, which means that chaos once again
has reigned over the New York Knicks franchise, discombobulated all
over the place, lacking maturity, it's got doling written all
over it. Hopefully they'll make the right decision with who
their next coach is going to be. But we shall see,

(06:14):
We shall see.