Phil Jackson call New York Knicks ‘clumsy’ – Not interested in coaching them: NBA Update
Ever since Mike D’Antoni bowed out as the head coach of the New York Knicks, there were rumours about the legendary Phil Jackson coming in to take the reins of the Big Apple franchise.
Those vibes finally ended when Mike Woodson got a multiyear contract a few weeks back and now Jackson has come out to contemplate on the matter of him returning to the New York Knicks as a coach, where his professional career started as a player back in 1967.
The comments which he had were more of a reality check for the Knicks. Jackson has labelled the current bunch presently adorning the Knicks colours as ‘clumsy’ and clearly stated that he would not have taken the coaching position even if the team had asked.
"I wasn't gonna take that job; that's for sure, They don't fit together well. (Amare) Stoudemire doesn't fit well with Carmelo (Anthony). Stoudemire's a really good player. But he's gotta play in a certain system and a way. Carmelo has to be a better passer. And the ball can't stop every time it hits his hands. They need to have someone come in that can kinda blend that group together."
Jackson has made a valid point. Despite the nig names, the Knicks look nothing like a championship calibre team. They have no team system and chemistry and if there is anybody who can spot a weakness within a team it is Jackson.
He had an illustrious career both as a player and coach. He won two championships as a player and 11 more as a coach while applying his trait with Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers and would not want to be associated with a team who at the moment do not seem like winning anything.
There rumours of Jackson to New York grew stronger after the Knicks got knocked out of the playoffs by the hands of Miami Heat in the first round. However James Dolan and Knicks management have opted to permanently appoint Mike Woodson as the head coach of the team after a successful interim tenure of 26 games in which he turned the not so impressive Knicks team into playoff contenders.
Jackson did not stop at the Knicks and also ruled Orlando Magic out as a destination, saying it was too far away from his home in Montana.
Nevertheless after retiring as the Lakers head coach last season, Jackson has not ruled out the possibility of him returning to the NBA by contemplating that there might yet be an interesting enough job that would lure him out of retirement.
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