Andre Iguodala Claims Mark Jackson's Religious Views Have Denied Him Coaching Jobs

In an interview with Power 105.1's The Breakfast Club, Golden State Warriors veteran forward Andre Iguodala claimed that the NBA is blackballing former Warriors head coach Mark Jackson. Iggy cited that Jackson's views on gender and marriage play a large part in his unemployment from the league.

Mark Jackson hasn't coached in the NBA since he was fired by the Warriors in 2014, just a year before the team won the first of their dynasty's three championships. Jackson is largely credited with turning around the nature of the team before the introduction of head coach Steve Kerr.

As a former pastor, Jackson has very biblical views on gender and especially same-sex marriage. Those beliefs are what Iguodala believes have kept Jackson out of a head coaching job for the past five years. Iggy also stated that there was conflict between Jackson and Warriors openly-gay President and COO Rick Welts.

No one knows for sure whether or not Jackson is actually being blackballed by the league or if he just hasn't been the right fit for any vacant coaching position. Upon his firing back in 2014, Jackson reached a deal to become an NBA analyst on ESPN and has been working around the league ever since.

If Jackson wants to find his way back into a head coaching role, he may need to think about keeping his views to himself. Perhaps him and Iggy can reunite someday, but that reunion certainly won't take place in Golden State.