Andre Iguodala Claims Mark Jackson’s Religious Views Have Denied Him Coaching Jobs

In his interview with Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club, Warriors veteran forward Andre Iguodala talked about former Warriors head coach Mark Jackson and his coaching career.

According to Iguodala, Jackson’s views on gender and marriage had a huge role in his career.

Mark Jackson hasn’t been offered a coaching position since the Warriors fired him in 2014. It happened a year before the team won the first of their three championships. Jackson was credited for the positive climate in the Golden State.

Jackson is a former pastor, and he has biblical views on gender and marriage. Iguodala says these believes kept Jackson unemployed. Iguorala also said there was a conflict between Jackson and Warriors President and COO Rick Welts who is gay.

Is Jackson blackballed by the NBA? Does this have anything to do with religion?

“Playing a part,” Iguodala said. “But if that’s not really you, you can’t really play the politics game, and I think it was a lot of that. Like, we were huge fans of Mark — the players — he was the ultimate players’ coach. He was one of my favorite coaches of all time.

“Like, he said Steph and Klay was gonna be the best backcourt ever, and they said he was crazy. This was seven years ago, and it came to fruition. But it was just the politics of it, man.”

Andre Iguodala said Mark Jackson’s religious and marriage views caused his absence from coaching since being fired by the Warriors in 2014 https://t.co/LnFxD2QhYd

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 25, 2019

Did Jackson make them go to church?

“No, he didn’t make us go to church. But he offered it to us. And we’ve got a team of a bunch of believers, so we went to church. We was going to church regardless. So, it was the politics. And once they want you out, they’re gonna find something.

“One particular issue was his views on gender or marriage or what the bible says on your sexuality, and the head of our business … Rick Welts … He’s celebrated as one of the top execs in sports, on the business side, and he’s gay, so there was conflicts with that that was widespread.

Golden State F Andre Iguodala says he believes former Warriors Head Coach Mark Jackson was “blackballed” by the league in an interview on the Breakfast Club

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— 7th Round Media (@7thRoundMedia) June 25, 2019

“Someone mentioned it to me, people can express themselves, but are you allowed to express yourself that you don’t agree with it? You should accept it, because we should all accept each other, but it’s like we’re afraid to really say our beliefs now. You may not believe in something, but you still have respect for them, as long as you don’t disrespect them or judge them.”