If NBA analyst Mark Jackson was on your list of ESPN talent you were hoping would fall victim to the network's latest round of layoffs, you're out of luck.
Days after the self-proclaimed worldwide leader in sports fired nearly 100 employees, a list which included noteworthy journalists such as Ed Werder, Ethan Strauss, Dana O'Neil, Calvin Watkins and Marc Stein, ESPN announced it had re-signed Jackson to a multiyear contract that will keep him at the network.
MORE: ESPN layoffs: Updated list of biggest names laid off
Jackson, a 17-year NBA veteran as a player, worked for ESPN six years before leaving to coach the Warriors from 2011-14, just before Steve Kerr took over and led the team to an NBA championship in 2015 and the league's best regular-season record the following season. Since coming back, Jackson has become a member of the network's NBA Finals broadcast team along with fellow former coach Jeff Van Gundy, analyst Doris Burke and play-by-play man Mike Breen.
He also serves as a regular analyst during the conference finals, "NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC" and key regular-season matchups.
“Mark’s expertise as a former head coach and former player, combined with his passion for the NBA, make him one of the best game analysts in the sport,” Mark Gross, ESPN senior vice president for production, said in a statement. “Mark is beloved by NBA fans and well-respected in the basketball community. Beyond that, he’s a terrific teammate to Mike, Jeff, Doris and our entire crew."
Momma, there goes that man . . . again.