Though there is no indication Jackson is a candidate for a Garden return, Pitino — who coached the Knicks from 1987-89, and earned AP Coach of the Year this season for St. John’s — took to social media earlier this week to tell his former employer that there is an ideal candidate actually available.

Mark Jackson responds to Rick Pitino’s endorsement to become the next New York Knicks head coach following Tom Thibodeau’s firing.

T he New York Knicks are at a standstill in their search for a replacement for ex-coach Tom Thibodeau, whom they fired at the end of their 2025 playoff run. Multiple franchises bl