After the devastating loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, head coach Mike D’Antoni is public enemy number one among Lakers fans once again. Ironically enough, the following day, Phil Jackson is the hot topic of discussion, but it has nothing to do with the Lakers.
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According to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, the New York Knicks reached out to Jackson about becoming the team’s next head coach:
New York Knicks president and general manager Steve Mills met about two weeks ago with Phil Jackson about the possibility of Jackson becoming the team’s next coach, sources told ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.
Over the past few years since leaving the Lakers, Jackson has been linked to numerous coaching positions in the NBA. Despite receiving interest from plenty of different franchises in the past, the one team that was thought to have a chance to land Jackson is the Knicks.
Unfortunately for New York, Jackson isn’t interested in returning to coaching at this time according to Smith:
The sources told Smith the message the Knicks received from Jackson was that he was not interested in the position at this time.
Jackson was a part of the only two NBA titles in the franchise’s history as a player back in 1970 and 1973. The Hall of Fame coach and former player has always had a soft spot for the Knicks and has been rumored to be interested in wanting to be part of the organization in the past. Jackson reuniting with his former team may never happen in any capacity after turning down the latest offer to coach.
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