Former Knick Nate Robinson weighs in on why Mark Jackson hasn't gotten another coaching opportunity

Former Knick Nate Robinson will be back on the court later this month, participating in The 5 Tournament, a six-team, 10-day tournament in Las Vegas featuring dozens of ex-NBA players.

The tournament has plenty of Knicks ties. Robinson, Mike Bibby, James White and Eddy Curry are among the ex-Knicks playing. Knicks exec Allan Houston and former Knicks great Charles Oakley will be among a group of ex-players serving as color commentators for the games.

The tournament, available via Pay Per View, kicks off on Sunday. Below, Robinson talks about the tournament, his days in New York and his impressions of Tom Thibodeau, a top candidate for the Knicks head-coaching vacancy. The Q&A has been lightly edited.

SNY: What made you want to play in The 5 Tournament?

ROBINSON: “I just love hoop man, I love to play basketball,” he said. “It’s something that I cherish and really enjoy doing. Me and my buddies get a chance to compete against each other at a high level, talk a little trash. It’s always fun to be able to compete against other guys that love the game just like you.”

Robinson will share the backcourt with Will Bynum on Team Chicago. He will have Curry in the post. He’s not worried about getting in shape because he trains with his two teenage sons and his brother.

“If I can keep up with 15-year-olds, I know I’ll be able to withstand playing against guys like Mario Chalmers and James White,” Robinson, the founder of the HOLDAT brand, said.

Robinson played in New York for the first four seasons of his career. He played for Jackson in Golden State in 2011-12.

Because of his experience playing for Jackson, his thoughts on why the New York native and former Knick hasn’t gotten the chance to coach since being dismissed by the Warriors are interesting.

SNY: What was your experience like playing for Mark Jackson?

ROBINSON: “Awesome guy, great coach. Gave me a great opportunity to showcase what I can do. He teaches you more than just being a basketball player, he really teaches you how to be a good human being. It was awesome to be around a guy of such talent and knowing that he was a New York star, could really play the game, he brought the swag and the flair and the shoulders when he made plays. He just brought so much swag and so much flair to the game – I love that about him. As a coach, he was so cool – just as he was as a player coach.”

SNY: Are you surprised that Jackson hasn’t gotten another opportunity to coach?

ROBINSON: No, because whenever you’re preaching positivity, you’re talking about the Lord, you’re talking about Jesus Christ, people don’t like that. The upper elites don’t like that. So I see why he’s not (coaching). And that’s the only reason I could say that’s keeping him from being a coach and that’s just being real, that’s just the truth. Because he can coach, he’s a good dude, good person, I don’t see (another reason why he hasn’t been hired.”

Jackson has supporters at Madison Square Garden but he wasn’t among the reported candidates for the job. It’s logical to think that he will be a candidate for the Brooklyn Nets opening. Jackson was fired by the Warriors after leading them to the playoffs in consecutive seasons (2012-14). It was the first time the franchise made the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 1990-92. Jackson's firing was clearly not based on wins and losses (some of the background for the decision is found here).

Warriors owner Joe Lacob had said after the firing that there were disagreements with Jackson over assistant coaching and that Jackson didn't get along with many in the organization.

In an interview with First Take recently, Jackson said that he’d have more regular communication with his general manager and owner if/when he coaches again.

SNY: YOU ARE A WASHINGTON GUY. YOU WERE IN THE GARDEN WHEN ALLONZO TRIER HAD HIS FIRST DUNK. WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THEM WAIVING HIM?

ROBINSON: “Shame on the Knicks for that. Shame on the Knicks. How do you let go of certain pieces that could be the next… who knows what he could have been (in New York)? But you’re going to end up finding out soon with whatever team picks him up…. (Trier’s next team just has) to understand what kind of player they got. They have to let him rock, let him do his thing and actually develop him. Actually let him play, let him earn his minutes, let him make mistakes and learn from them. You’ve got to let him ball out, and then you’ll get the most out of him. But they (the Knicks) tend to be rushing. But shame on the Knicks for letting him go. I didn’t even know that. That’s crazy.

“I think coach Thibodeau would love him as a player,” Robinson added. “He defends and he plays offense – he can do both. When you’ve got a guy that plays on both sides of the ball – you’ve got a Jimmy Butler on your team all over again.”

The Knicks waived Trier earlier this month and signed former Net Theo Pinson. For more on the decision, see here.

SNY: THE NBA IS GOING TO RESUME ITS SEASON IN ORLANDO. IF YOU WERE PLAYING, WOULD YOU GO TO THE BUBBLE OR STAY HOME?

ROBINSON: Hmmm I don’t know man. I love basketball. If they need me to play, I would want to play. But in a time like this with everything that’s going on, I don’t know if it would be safe to play. I feel like if anybody end up getting the coronavirus while they’re out there they’re going to have to shut everything down. Then it goes back to where we are now – quarantine and lockdown. I just think they don’t need to rush something like this to please people at home that are bored, not knowing what to do. It’s like, just enjoy your time with the family, enjoy the time that we have.

SNY: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE PLAYERS USING THEIR PLATFORM IN ORLANDO TO FIGHT SYSTEMIC RACISM VS. THE GAMES BEING A DISTRACTION FROM THE MESSAGE?

ROBINSON: “(People) need to understand and open their eyes about racism and how it’s destroying the world, especially for people that look like me. They really have to understand – our people have been through so much, it’s like now is the only time that we’re going to actually get to stand up and speak about it and it’s time for them to listen. And hopefully we have change. We’re trying to get them to see – for our people and the families that have lost (loved ones), the time is now to speak up and to make change, to do better. Hopefully that can happen. Who knows what really is a distraction? If basketball is really a distraction from everything that’s going on? But at some point, like you said, we need justice, we need change and the time to strike – you’ve got to strike while the iron is hot, and that’s now.”

SNY: GETTING BACK TO THE 5 TOURNAMENT, DO YOU HAVE TO GET IN SHAPE TO GET BACK ON THE COURT OR ARE YOU ALWAYS IN SHAPE?

ROBINSON: “I pretty much stay in shape. I train with my kids. They work out with my brother, their uncle, Denzel Washington. We work on our bodies, eat right and try to stay right. My son’s 15 years old, I have another son that’s 14. So we just try to stay as fit as we can. That’s been the fun thing. Trying to stay young. And if I can keep up with high school kids and still play at a high level with them, I know I’ll be able to withstand playing against Mario Chalmers and James White.”

SNY: YOU RECENTLY STARTED A CLOTHING LINE CALLED HOLDAT. HOW ARE THINGS GOING WITH THE COMPANY?

ROBINSON: It’s a brand that hopefully is going to be here for many years to come. Big shout out to Joakim Noah, who started ‘holdat’ – the name – what it stands for, what it means. I think it’s the ultimate word for success. (Noah) starting the word holdat when he won the national championship in Florida in back to back years, so big shoutout to Joakim. Me and (Carlos) Boozer are business partners, and it’s something that we live by everyday.”