Mark Jackson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Mark Jackson

Jackson with the Golden State Warriors in 2012
Personal information
Born	(1965-04-01) April 1, 1965 (age 60) Queens, New York, U.S.
High school	Bishop Loughlin (Brooklyn, New York)
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight	195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
College	St. John's (1983–1987)
NBA Draft	1987 / Round: 1 / Pick: 18th overall
Selected by the New York Knicks
Pro career	1987–2004
Coaching career	2011–2014
Career history
As player:
1987–1992	New York Knicks
1992–1994	Los Angeles Clippers
1994–1996	Indiana Pacers
1996–1997	Denver Nuggets
1997–2000	Indiana Pacers
2000–2001	Toronto Raptors
2001–2002	New York Knicks
2002–2003	Utah Jazz
2004	Houston Rockets
As coach:
2011–2014	Golden State Warriors
Career highlights and awards
NBA All-Star (1989) NBA Rookie of the Year (1988) NBA All-Rookie First Team (1988) NBA assists leader (1997) Consensus second-team All-American (1987) NCAA assists leader (1986) 2× First-team All-Big East (1986, 1987) Big East Defensive Player of the Year (1987) Haggerty Award (1987)
Career statistics
Points	12,489 (9.6 ppg)
Rebounds	4,963 (3.8 rpg)
Assists	10,334 (8.0 apg)

Mark A. Jackson (born April 1, 1965) is an American former professional basketball player. He played as a point guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the St. John's Red Storm. The New York Knicks chose him in the first round of the 1987 NBA draft.

After his playing career, Jackson became a TV commentator for ESPN and ABC. He also worked as an analyst for The YES Network. In 2011, the Golden State Warriors hired Jackson as their head coach. He coached the team for three seasons. He led the Warriors to the playoffs two years in a row, which hadn't happened in over 20 years. He returned to ESPN as a commentator in 2014 and worked there until 2023.

Early Life and College Basketball

Mark Jackson grew up in St. Albans, a neighborhood in Queens, New York City, New York. He was known as one of the best point guards in the country during high school. He went to Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn, New York City, where he was a star player.

Jackson became a college basketball star at St. John's University. He played with Chris Mullin, who later became an Olympian and NBA All-Star. Jackson said Mullin taught him how important it was to practice hard. While playing, Jackson developed a special way to shoot free throws. He would cup his thumb and index finger around the rim to help him focus. This helped him shoot free throws well throughout his career.

Professional Playing Career

New York Knicks (1987–1992)

The New York Knicks picked Mark Jackson 18th in the 1987 NBA draft. He joined Patrick Ewing and Charles Oakley to help the Knicks become a strong playoff team. In his first year, he averaged 13.6 points and 10.6 assists per game. This earned him the 1988 Rookie of the Year award. He was the lowest draft pick to win this award since 1958.

In 1989, Jackson had another great season. He and Ewing led the Knicks to win their division. Jackson also played in his only All-Star Game that year. After a few seasons, he was traded from the Knicks in 1992.

Playing for Other Teams (1992–2004)

After leaving the Knicks, Jackson played for several other NBA teams. He joined the Los Angeles Clippers in 1992. With the Clippers, he helped them reach the playoffs for two years in a row.

In 1994, Jackson was traded to the Indiana Pacers. He played alongside stars like Reggie Miller and Rik Smits. He helped the Pacers become a top team in the league. He even played in his only NBA Finals in 2000 with the Pacers, where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Jackson then played for the Toronto Raptors in 2000. He was traded back to the New York Knicks in 2001. After that, he played for the Utah Jazz in 2002. During his time with the Jazz, he became second on the all-time assists list, behind his teammate John Stockton. Jackson finished his playing career with the Houston Rockets in 2004.

Player Skills and Achievements

Mark Jackson is ranked 6th on the all-time assists list in the NBA. He played in 1,296 games, which is 24th all-time. He also ranks high in steals and minutes played. Even though he won Rookie of the Year, he only made one All-Star appearance in his career.

Jackson is also known for a special rule in the NBA. He used to dribble with his back to the basket for a long time. Because of this, the league created the "five-second back-to-the-basket violation." This rule, sometimes called the "Mark Jackson Rule," stops players from dribbling with their back to the basket for more than five seconds in a row.

He also helped make the "teardrop" shot more popular. This shot allowed him to score over taller defenders.

Coaching Career

Golden State Warriors (2011–2014)

Jackson coaching the Warriors in 2013

On June 6, 2011, Mark Jackson became the head coach of the Golden State Warriors. The team had only made the playoffs once in the 17 years before he arrived. Jackson promised to make the Warriors a strong defensive team and a playoff contender.

In his first year, the team had a tough season with many injuries. But in the 2012–13 season, with great play from Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, Jackson led the Warriors to a 47–35 record. They made the playoffs for the first time since 2007. The Warriors won their first playoff series against the Denver Nuggets. They then lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the next round.

The next season, the Warriors improved even more, winning 51 games. This was the first time the team had won 50 or more games since 1993. They reached the playoffs for the second year in a row, which was a big achievement for the team. However, they lost in the first round to the Los Angeles Clippers. On May 6, 2014, Jackson was no longer the head coach of the Warriors. The team's management said they needed a different coach to win an NBA championship. The very next season, the Warriors, under a new coach, won their first NBA title in 40 years.

Broadcasting Career

After his coaching career, Mark Jackson returned to working as a basketball analyst. He worked for New Jersey Nets games on YES Network. He also teamed up with Mike Breen and his former coach Jeff Van Gundy as an analyst for ABC.

In May 2014, Jackson signed a new agreement to return to ESPN as a game analyst. He continued to work as a commentator until July 2023.

Personal Life

Mark Jackson married singer and actress Desiree Coleman in 1990. They have four children. They divorced in 2017. His son, Mark Jackson Jr., played college basketball for the Manhattan Jaspers. Mark is also the older brother of AND1 streetballer Troy Jackson, who was known as "Escalade." Troy passed away in 2011. Mark Jackson is a Christian and a licensed minister.

NBA Career Statistics

Regular season

• Due to a mid-season trade ended up playing a total of 83 games.

Playoffs

Head Coaching Record

See also

In Spanish: Mark Jackson para niños

• List of National Basketball Association career games played leaders
• List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders
• List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders
• List of National Basketball Association career turnovers leaders
• List of National Basketball Association career minutes played leaders
• List of National Basketball Association career playoff assists leaders
• List of National Basketball Association single-game assists leaders