The Golden State Warriors fired coach Mark Jackson Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the situation.
The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition on anonymity because the firing had not been made public.
The Warriors were 51-31 this season and that was the best regular season record since the 1991-92, when they were 55-27. That was also the last time the Warriors reached the playoffs two consecutive seasons.
Jackson had the support of his players as his team, the seventh seed in the Western Conference, pushed the third-seeded Los Angeles Clippers to seven games in the opening round series.
“I love Coach more than anybody, and I think for him to be in a situation where his job is under scrutiny and under question is totally unfair,” Warriors guard Steph Curry said after the team was eliminated by the Clippers. “And it would definitely be a shock to me if anything like (replacing him) were to happen.”
