- 5 Questions For Mark Jackson -

5 QUESTIONS FOR MARK JACKSON


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March 24, 2006 -- This week, NYP TV Sports' Andrew Marchand spoke with ABC's and YES' NBA analyst, Mark Jackson. Jackson, 40, recently was added to ABC's pregame show.

Q: Do you think both Larry Brown and Stephon Marbury will be back with the Knicks next year. If not, who will be gone?

A: Larry Brown is a coach making a lot of money and he is a very good coach, obviously. Stephon Marbury is an excellent player. I don't know if it can work. I didn't know from the beginning if it could work. If I had to guess, one of them is not going to be there.

It is not about who is more important, it is about which one is easier to get rid of, and I think that answer is probably Steph. They are not going to get rid of Larry Brown after a year.

That's not what I'm saying I would do.

Q: What would you do?

A: I think in any relationship there has to be a give and take. If you want to bring out the best in Stephon Marbury, you can't ask him to be Jason Kidd. Just like if you are coaching Jason Kidd, don't ask him to be Stephon Marbury, because you are just going to expose him.

Put him in a position to get the best out of what he brings to the table and steer him to what you are trying to accomplish as a team. It is a give and take for both guys.

Q: How far can the Nets go in the playoffs?

A: Very far. They have three great players in Vince [Carter], Jason [Kidd] and Richard [Jefferson]. They have an exceptional young, big man in [Nenad] Krstic. They have a phenomenal role player in Jason Collins. And they have guys who have accepted their roles and a great, young coach in Lawrence Frank. They understand how they have to win - that is the difference across the river.

Q: Your broadcasting career has taken off, but is coaching still something you really want to do?

A: I really don't know. All along my dream was to either coach in this league or run a team. I'm having a blast doing TV. I'm really enjoying it. I don't look at anything else. What I'm trying to do is be the best at what I'm doing.

I went to a church in the Bahamas about 10 years ago and the pastor told me I would be a television guy where the country would be able to watch me.

Q: When are you going back to the Bahamas to talk to this pastor to find out about your coaching future?

A: I'm sure he is watching [Jackson on TV] an' saying, "I told you so.''

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