Marques Wants to Coach Clippers With Nixon

Marques Johnson, the Clippers’ star forward, said Thursday that he would like to become co-coach of the team next season along with guard Norm Nixon.

“We’ve talked a lot about being co-coaches,” Johnson said. “Based on our experience in the league I think we’d do a good job.”

However, Johnson said that he and Nixon haven’t applied for the job, which became vacant when Don Chaney was fired Wednesday.

Said Clipper General Manager Elgin Baylor: “I’ll have no comment until I talk with them (Johnson and Nixon).”

Johnson, 31, is a 10-year veteran who played in only 10 games last season before suffering a neck injury.

Nixon, 31, missed the entire 1986-87 season after suffering a knee injury last summer.

Nixon wasn’t available for comment.

Meanwhile, ex-Phoenix Suns Coach John MacLeod, who was interviewed by the Clippers Wednesday, said he may talk with the club again next week.

He said the Clippers haven’t made him any contract offers.

The Clippers also plan to interview ex-New York Knicks Coach Hubie Brown and former Philadelphia 76ers Coach Gene Shue.

Brown, who arrived in Los Angeles Thursday and attended the Lakers-Nuggets game at the Forum, denied that he has reached an agreement in principal with the Clippers.

“I have nothing to say,” Brown said. “I’m here to do the CBS game (Saturday) period.”

Clipper center Benoit Benjamin said the Clippers shouldn’t have fired Chaney.

“I think he deserved another chance,” Benjamin said.

Benjamin added that he’s leaving today for his home in Monroe, La. The Clippers had wanted Benjamin to stay in Los Angeles and get in shape for next season.

However, Benjamin said he may return to Los Angeles in a “couple of months.”