Brian Scalabrine opens up about time with Warriors
Brian Scalabrine was one of the casualties of Mark Jackson's tumultuous final season with the Warriors, but the newly minted CSN New England analyst says that he was given a chance to remain with Golden State once Jackson was replaced with Steve Kerr.
Scalabrine, who was reassigned to the Warriors' D-League affiliate in Santa Cruz during the season, spoke to Boston radio station The Sports Hub's Toucher and Rich Show on Tuesday.
“At the end of the day, when they hired Coach Kerr, the ownership offered me a chance to interview," Scalabrine said. "And at that point, I realized they really wanted me to stay within the organization and be a coach at whatever position, whether it was a bench coach or player development. And I just felt like at the time, it probably wasn’t the best move.”
Since then, of course, Scalabrine has landed a TV gig and spoofed LeBron James's "I'm coming home" letter in hilarious fashion.
The former Nets, Celtics and Bulls big man also talked about the changes that occurred under Jackson this past season.
About the Warriors' coaching staff, Scalabrine said, "We could have done more and we didn’t, and I think he kind of sensed that."
In reference to his own issues with Jackson, Scalabrine added, “At the end of the day, to say it was a difference of philosophy, a difference of opinion, I mean, that’s truly what it was. And I’m so used to seeing like a Doc Rivers and a Tom Thibodeau and it kind of threw me for kind of a loop and a surprise that it was not as hard-pressing as I thought it was going to be.”
Scalabrine did take the high road, however; thanking Jackson and the Warriors for the opportunity he was given.