Former Lakers head coach Phil Jackson has officially become the president of basketball operations for the New York Knicks after weeks of speculation surrounding the potential hiring.
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Before taking on the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night, current Lakers head coach Mike D’Antoni was asked about what he thought about Jackson taking the job with the Knicks. D’Antoni said the following about the move by Jackson according to Mark Medina of the L.A. Daily News:
Mike D'Antoni says it's a "good move" Phil Jackson took FO job in NY: "He obviously is a knowledgeable basketball guy. They need that."
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) March 15, 2014
D’Antoni has been linked with Jackson ever since taking the job with the Lakers following the firing of Mike Brown. Jackson was expected to be the next head coach of the Lakers after the team parted ways with Brown, but the team decided to go in a different direction by surprisingly hiring D’Antoni overnight.
Jackson was clearly unhappy about the Lakers going with D’Antoni and the fan backlash has been brutal to say the least over the last two seasons.
With D’Antoni failing to turn this team around after taking over for Brown, the future seems bleak for the head coach moving forward. Rumors have circulated about D’Antoni on the verge of being fired and Kobe Bryant no longer wanting him coaching the team.
D’Antoni’s stint with the Lakers could be coming to an end with Mitch Kupchak and company possibly parting ways in the off-season, while Jackson turns over a new leaf in New York.
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Kobe Bryant On Phil Jackson To The Knicks, “I Don’t Really Get It”
