Image

8:22 PM / Friday November 8, 2024

28 Jun 2017

Knicks fire president Phil Jackson after Carmelo feud

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
June 28, 2017 Category: Sports Posted by:

NEW YORK (AP) — Phil Jackson is out as New York Knicks president after he oversaw one of the worst eras in team history and feuded with star Carmelo Anthony.

Days after Jackson reiterated his desire to trade Anthony and said he would listen to deals for Kristaps Porzingis, Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan reversed course and cut ties with Jackson on Wednesday.

“After careful thought and consideration, we mutually agreed that the Knicks will be going in a different direction,” Dolan said in a statement. “Phil Jackson is one of the most celebrated and successful individuals in the history of the NBA. His legacy in the game of basketball is unmatched.”

But his work as a first-time executive was awful. The winner of an NBA-record 11 championships as coach, Jackson couldn’t engineer one playoff berth while running the Knicks. The team was 80-166 in his three full seasons, including a franchise-worst 17-65 in 2014-15.

The move comes less than a week after Jackson led the Knicks through the NBA draft and on the eve of free agency that opens Saturday. Dolan said general manager Steve Mills would run the day-to-day business of the team in the short term.

Jackson was a Hall of Fame coach with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, delivering titles with some of the game’s biggest stars like Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. He also was part of the Knicks when they won NBA titles in 1970 and 1973.

He was welcomed back to the organization to huge fanfare in March 2014, but it soon became clear the transition would be a poor one. His first coaching hire, Derek Fisher, lasted just 1½ seasons, and Jackson’s trades and free agency moves also failed to improve the club.

“I had hoped, of course, to bring another NBA championship to the Garden. As someone who treasures winning, I am deeply disappointed that we weren’t able to do that,” Jackson said. “New York fans deserve nothing less. I wish them and the Knicks organization all the best — today and always.”

___

AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds contributed to this report.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Leave a Comment

Recent News

Sports

The balancing act

November 4, 2024

Share Tweet Email The Philadelphia Eagles may have found their offensive balance by adding more Saquon Barkley...

SUNrise

Two historic Philadelphia churches offer lessons for an America divided today and in its infancy

November 3, 2024

Share Tweet Email Sunlight shines through the colorful stained-glass windows at Philadelphia’s Mother Bethel AME on Sunday,...

Health

Medicare open enrollment open through Dec. 7

October 21, 2024

Share Tweet Email Family Features If you’re enrolled in Medicare, it’s important to remember Medicare Open Enrollment...

Color Of Money

Three things to know about learning AI for career advancement

October 29, 2024

Share Tweet Email BPT Artificial intelligence (AI) undeniably continues to shape the workplace. Companies across the globe...

Seniors

Why prioritizing your health and maximizing wellness matters

October 21, 2024

Share Tweet Email BPT Do you put wellness visits and health screenings at the top of your...

Suburban News

Russian actors made fake video depicting mail-in ballots for Trump being destroyed, FBI says

November 3, 2024

Share Tweet Email A mail-in official ballot for the 2024 General Election in the United States is...

The Philadelphia Sunday Sun Staff