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OAKLAND – As Warriors ownership and management watches and evaluates and occasionally winces over the performance of coach Mark Jackson, the team's brightest star is putting in a request.
If CEO Joe Lacob is considering whether to retain Jackson or perhaps offer him an extension – or consider dismissing him – Stephen Curry would like to be involved in the process.
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"I hope they ask, for sure,'' Curry says. "And I'd give them my honest opinion. And hopefully that means something.''
"I love coach and everything he's about. I love playing for him and that's all that matters to me.
Curry has consistently expressed unwavering support for Jackson, and has shown no indication of backing off in the face of mounting criticism of the coach.
There is widespread speculation that Jackson's future with the team is in jeopardy, or that it's linked to the team's showing in the postseason. There has been some consternation from those at the top of the franchise's organizational chart, and the oddly timed semi-distractive reassignment of assistant coach Brian Scalabrine surely is something Lacob and Co. would like to have avoided.
Curry, however, gives his coach the bulk of the credit for the change in culture since his arrival as a rookie in 2009.
"We're two years removed from being a terrible basketball team,'' Curry said. "The transformation we've had since coach Jackson has been here is obviously evident and it raises the expectations. Yeah, we've lost some winnable games and games we shouldn't have along the way, but that's part of the growth process. We're on pace for the best season in 20 years. That's a sign of good change.
"I support coach 100 percent and understand what he's done for us. Being in the locker room every single day and just observing from my rookie to year to now what has changed. Most of all of that is a result of him.
"So what people say or criticism he takes, I know he takes it on the chin and keeps moving. It doesn’t waver his confidence at all. That's what I admire most about him. We're going to go out and continue to play hard for the rest of this season and into the playoffs, and kind of block that noise out. Because I know everybody in the locker room supports him 100 percent.''
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It's not uncommon for front office personnel to seek player input when evaluating an NBA coach, and that's particularly true in the case of a franchise cornerstone. After signing Curry to a four-year contract extension in October 2012, Lacob acknowledged that the Warriors are "Steph's team now.''
Maybe the point guard remembers that statement.
"Obviously, I'm not the one making decisions,'' Curry said. "But I have an opinion, just as each person does. And, hopefully, they listen to a certain point.''
