Could we possibly have a situation where the New York Knicks are forced to choose between Carmelo Anthony or Phil Jackson.
Thacover2 is reporting that star forward Carmelo Anthony was kept in the dark about Knicks recent pursuit of Phil Jackson. According to the report, Melo isn’t that happy about the his organizations new found love affair with Jackson.
A source told The New York Post the Knicks expect the Hall of Fame coach in the fold any day. The Post reported in Sunday’s editions Jackson was “real close’’ to agreeing to join the Knicks front office and return to the organization that drafted him in 1967.
There are ongoing discussions about his exact role, but The Post reported Knicks president Steve Mills would retain a similar position.
“I don’t even know what’s going on with that,’’ Anthony said late Saturday night after the Knicks beat the Cavaliers for their third straight win. “Nobody came to me about that. Until that time comes, I’m not going to know what’s going on.
“It’s hard to say at this particular moment. If anything, it’s not going to be right now. I’m pretty sure they’d try to wait for the offseason and then we’ll deal with all that stuff.’’
Anthony’s lack of an endorsement for Jackson has some concerned.
Others believe it goes back to a 2012 swipe Jackson took at Anthony and the Knicks.
Anthony’s failure to give Jackson an endorsement was notable, if not troublesome, considering he will be a free agent July 1. Jackson was critical of the Knicks roster in 2012 after he surprisingly wasn’t offered the team’s coaching job. The Knicks promoted Mike Woodson to interim coach and never contacted Jackson, who owns 11 championship rings as a coach.
In the interview two years ago with HBO’s “Real Sports,’’ Jackson called the roster “clumsy.’’
“Well, they don’t fit together well,’’ Jackson said at the time. “[Amar’e] Stoudemire doesn’t fit together well with Carmelo. Stoudemire’s a really good player. But he’s got to 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 kind of blend that group together.’’