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Shaquille O'Neal Subtly Endorses Former Warriors Coach for Knicks Job

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Jun 3, 2025 10:23 PM ET

The New York Knicks made headlines across the NBA world on Tuesday after news hit that they had decided to fire head coach Tom Thibodeau.

This decision came following the Knicks suffering a heartbreaking loss to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals and after Thibodeau's five-year reign as head coach.

Naturally, the basketball world is already talking about who the Knicks should name as Thibodeau's successor. Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal appears to have made his choice after sharing a strong endorsement video via his Instagram stories not long after the Thibodeau news broke.

O'Neal did not caption his post, but it seems clear that the four-time NBA champ wants to see former Golden State Warriors shot-caller Mark Jackson take the helm in New York.

Shaq wants to see Mark Jackson in New York

(via @shaq on IG) pic.twitter.com/vt4z87snBv
— Paolo Songco (@PaoloSongcoNBA) June 4, 2025

O'Neal shared a video strongly advocating Jackson as Thibodeau's successor for the Knicks. The clip highlights Jackson's achievements for the Warriors, where he served as head coach for three seasons between 2011 and 2014.

Jackson may not have won a championship with Golden State, but the former All-Star point guard is widely credited for playing a pivotal role in laying the foundations of the Stephen Curry-led Warriors dynasty.

It is worth noting that Jackson also started his playing career with the Knicks as the team's first-round pick in the 1987 NBA Draft. He won Rookie of the Year in his first season with the Knicks and was named an All-Star in his sophomore campaign.

Jackson suited up for New York for five years at the start of his career, and another couple of seasons toward the tail end of his NBA tenure. A return to the Knicks as a head coach would be a full-circle moment of sorts for the 60-year-old.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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