Stephen Curry speaks out on Lacob

All-Star guard Stephen Curry thinks owner Joe Lacob's harsh criticism of former coach Mark Jackson is distracting to a Golden State Warriors team that has the NBA's best mark and is on a franchise-record 12-game winning streak.

Following Lacob's public apology for taking issue with Jackson's management skills, Curry told reporters: "I think it's unfortunate, just the distraction from what is going on right now. Obviously, we're playing well, and you can nitpick of what's the difference between this year and last year, but you're talking about two great coaches [in Jackson and current coach Steve Kerr]."

Curry spoke at shootaround before Monday night's game in Minnesota, where the Warriors will try to add to the team record book with an eighth consecutive road win.

At a luncheon for venture capitalists on Dec. 3, Lacob said, referring to Jackson's firing, that "part of it was that he couldn't get along with anybody else in the organization. And look, he did a great job, and I'll always compliment him in many respects, but you can't have 200 people in the organization not like you."

Lacob apologized on Sunday via email to Bay Area News Group.

"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Mark Jackson and what he accomplished as our head coach. He did a terrific job," Lacob wrote, according to the news outlet. "I've said that many times over the last several months and in recent days, including at this week's event. I was asked to draw comparisons earlier this week between building businesses in the tech world and the sports world, and unfortunately, I used some poor judgment. That's my mistake. I did attempt to reach out to Mark on Friday, and I certainly apologize for my comments and any unintended harm. I know that Mark will succeed again in this business."

Of Lacob, Curry said: "For him to apologize is a big gesture."

"My whole thing is not to discredit anything Coach Jackson did because he was such a great coach for us and elevated a lot of our individual games, and I'm proud of that and appreciate that. And obviously it's a new era, a new experience that we're in right now, and we're enjoying it."

Jackson was replaced by longtime NBA commentator Kerr, who has coached Golden State to a 17-2 record and a league-best 10-1 road mark in his first season in the league. The Warriors are the only team with two guards averaging at least 20 points. Curry ranks in the top 10 in scoring at 23.2, while Klay Thompson is in the top 15 with 21.2.