New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson thankful Phil Jackson wasn’t offered job – NBA Update
Mike Woodson remarked in an interview that he was happy the New York Knicks did not approach former Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson. Jackson, who has retired and is the most successful coach in the history of the game, was linked with a return to the
NBA as head coach of the Knicks.
Coach Mike D’Antoni resigned midway through the 2011 – 2012 NBA season, leaving the team without a permanent head coach and struggling to make the playoffs. Although there was strong speculation that Jackson would be given the job, Woodson was made the interim
coach and after the season earned a contract as full time coach.
When asked about Jackson not being offered the job, Woodson was candid about it. Mike said he was just happy that Knicks owner James Dolan picked him in the end and will now be looking to help the team as head coach next season.
“Well I am glad they didn’t. [Laughs] I got a great respect for Phil and what he has done over the years and he’s an excellent coach, but again I don’t call those shots. Mr. Dolan made the decision to bring me back and that’s how it was. I was able to negotiate
a fair contract. I’ll be back coaching the Knicks next season.”
Woodson also clarified that he wasn’t thinking about the head coaching job when D’Antoni left. Mike had only joined the staff at the Knicks at the start of the 2011 – 2012 season to help improve the flailing defence. When he was made interim coach he was
just focused on getting the team to play better and reach the playoffs.
The head coaching contract only arrived after that.
“My only concern was trying to get the team into the playoffs and how far we could advance once we got in. Once we got into the playoffs Mr. Dolan came up to me and expressed that he wanted me to come back.”
The Knicks were struggling when Woodson took over but he guided the team to a 16-8 record, earning the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference. The fact that he got better performances out of stars such as Carmelo Anthony is also believed to have been
a factor in his favour.
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