The New York Knicks coaching search continues. We’ve heard a lot about Phil Jackson assuming a leadership with the same franchise in which he began his professional career, and first established himself as an NBA player. We’re not hearing as much about who the legitimate front-running candidates are in the Knicks coaching search though.
One candidate is Mark Jackson, who was asked on a media conference call yesterday.
The Finals begin tonight on ABC, and ESPN analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson previewed the series for the media.
Mark Jackson was asked: “are you convinced you want to coach again, or are you good where you’re at? What is your state right now, now that you’ve signed with ESPN?
JACKSON: “Well, I do look forward to coaching one day if it presents itself again. Right now I’m having a blast being back with my crew. I’m fortunate and thrilled to death to be back. If the opportunity presents itself, I look forward to coaching again. If I end my career the way it ended and I continue to call games, I’m fine with that, just to clear that up also. I’m having the time of my life calling these games and being back with this incredible group.”
So he hasn’t ruled out coaching again, but what about the Knicks job?
The New York Post has identified Jackson as a potential target in the Knicks coaching search. Then again, it’s the Post. There’s a reason one of the greatest lines ever written in the genre of slapstick comedy was:
“Here is your torturer- Klaus is a moron who knows only what he reads in the New York Post.” (Top Secret, 1983)
Said Jackson of the NY Post rumors:
“Obviously, you hear the talk, even if it’s the New York Post reporting my inner circle made a statement, and I have no clue because my wife and kids have not spoken to the Post, so just to counter that. It’s an incredible job. It’s an incredible opportunity. And I’m sure that Phil Jackson will do an outstanding job of finding the right coach to get that organization and that team headed back in the right situation.”
So Mark Jackson is denying that Phil Jackson has pursued him, or at least denying the Post report. But his answer clearly shows that he’s very interested in the job, should the next chapter of the Knicks coaching search focus on him.
Of course, when you bring up the Jackson rumors, you must then address the alleged/rumored “philosophical differences” that may or may not have led to his parting ways from the Golden State Warriors. As for the “philosophical differences,” well read this San Jose Mercury News report on that. It’s pretty even-keel and covers all sides of that controversy, or alleged controversy. That would be the situation surrounding Jason Collins.
Finally, no Knicks coaching search analysis is complete without exploring how Mark Jackson would fit. As you’ve figured out by now, the Knicks coaching search was a hot topic on this conference call. There was a question about what kind of guy would fit in New York. If the perception of what New York needs is actually true. And this question was of course a more subtle way of just asking, are you that kind of guy who would fit?
Said Jackson of the Knicks coaching search qualifications:
“as a kid that grew up in New York City and with the Knicks, everybody’s not made for New York City, whether you’re in management, whether you’re playing, whether you’re coaching. I can remember as a kid watching very good to great players play other places, be traded to the Knicks and not be the same player, whereas some propelled when they got the opportunity to put on a Knicks uniform. It’s something about the fans.
It’s something about the pressure. It’s something about the media.
So to be quite honest, everybody is not built for it. It’s a different animal. It’s a different monster. It takes special personality and a person understanding the things that come into play to a tee. I thought, obviously I’m biased, but I thought Jeff did an incredible job juggling all of them during his time as head coach of the Knicks, but everybody’s not capable or qualified to do just that.”
Paul M. Banks owns The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. He’s also a frequent guest on talk radio stations across the country. Banks, a former contributor to NBC Chicago and the Washington Times, has been featured in numerous outlets including NFL.com, Forbes, Bleacher Report, Deadspin and the History Channel. President Barack Obama follows him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)