Mark Jackson grateful for Rick Pitinos Knicks coaching endorsement: Got great taste

The Knicks coaching search has gone from sloppy to embarrassing, and one of their former coaches, Rick Pitino, proactively said he has no interest in the job.But Pitino did stump for one of his former Knick players, suggesting they hire Mark Jackson in the Garden.And the seemingly blackballed Jackson — who hasn’t coached in over a decade — appreciated the endorsement of his mentor.“He’s a legend.I love him to death,” Jackson, speaking on SiriusXM NBA Radio, said of Pitino, who coached the point guard during his first two seasons with the Knicks.Jackson won NBA Rookie of the Year under Pitino in 1988 and was an All-Star the next season.“I’m not in the league 17 years playing if he’s not my first coach,” Jackson said.

“I’m forever grateful, and he’s Coach to me.“He’s a brilliant basketball mind.He’s turned over St.

John’s University and turned back the hand of time to bring them back to their glory days.It’s great to watch.

It’s fun to watch.He’s one of the greatest coaches in the history of sports, not just basketball.

And on top of that, he’s got great taste by that statement.”One can question the Knicks’ taste in abruptly firing Tom Thibodeau on June 3, just three days after they were eliminated from their first Eastern Conference finals since 2000.Since then, Knicks president Leon Rose has been denied permission to speak with Dallas’ Jason Kidd, Houston’s Ime Udoka, Minnesota’s Chris Finch, Atlanta’s Quin Snyder and Chicago’s Billy Donovan, according to multiple reports.The Post’s Stefan Bondy has confirmed the Knicks are expected to interview former Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins and former Kings coach Mike Brown, each fired earlier this season.The Post reached out to the agents for both Jenkins and Brown on Saturday, with neither returning calls.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 thi...