New York Knicks Rumors: Could Phil Jackson Return To Coaching?
New York Knicks rumors are swirling after the dismissal of coach Mike Woodson, with speculation rising that Phil Jackson may make his return to coaching.
Jackson’s name has been involved in just about every NBA job opening over the last few years after the former Lakers coach made it clear he wants to return to the game. But now Jackson has actually returned to the game, taking a job as the Knicks team president.
The move would make sense, as many insiders viewed Jackson’s role as team president as a possible stepping stone back to the head coaching job. While Jackson has said he is happy in his role, and all the rumors leading up to this point involved him in some kind of front office capacity, if he does not find a coach who fits it is well within Jackson’s personality to call his own name.
But there are other rumors surrounding the New York Knicks, only these ones aren’t such a secret. The team has been meeting with NBA sharpshooter turned analyst Steve Kerr about taking the coaching role.
Kerr and Jackson met for a few hours over the weekend, but no deal was reached.
“We will keep talking,” said Kerr, who continues to work as an analyst for TNT during the NBA playoffs. “There is a lot to cover on both sides. This was the first time we’ve talked about the job. It just opened up last week. We got a lot of things to discuss.”
Kerr and Jackson have quite a history, with Kerr playing a key role on Jackson’s NBA champion teams in Chicago.
“I know Phil [said] we shared the same space, which I think is well said,” Kerr said when asked if he has to employ the triangle offense if he coaches the Knicks. “We share a lot of the same philosophies. I learned a lot of my basketball from him and Tex Winter.
“It is safe to say that we have a lot of the same ideas. As far as getting into the details of the triangle and that sort of thing, I am not going to expand on that. Obviously there is a strong connection between us and our beliefs.”
But other New York Knicks rumors point to trouble for the team’s future. While either Phil Jackson or Steve Kerr could be coming in as head coach, Carmelo Anthony could be on the way out as reports say the star is looking for a change of scenery.
