Almost immediately after Mike D'Antoni resigned as head coach of the Knicks last March, everyone started speculating on the possibility of legendary coach and zen master Phil Jackson swooping in and turning an assemblage of busted knees and shot attempts into an actual team. Sources told ESPN at the time that Jackson would likely be "fascinated" by the idea—but in an interview to be aired this week, Jackson revealed he was the exact opposite of fascinated: “I wasn’t gonna take that job, that’s for sure.”
Jackson sat down to talk about his legacy for an “HBO Real Sports” interview that will air on Tuesday. He said Knicks owner James Dolan never called him, and even if he did, he wouldn't want to coach the "clumsy" Knicks. He explained what he meant:
Well, they don’t fit together well. (Amare) Stoudemire doesn’t fit well with Carmelo. Stoudemire’s a really good player. But he’s gotta 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 kinda blend that group together.
Interviewer Andrea Kremer suggested he was that kind of coach: “Yeah,” Jackson agreed. “Well, it never happened.” This yet again proves you shouldn't believe every $50 million rumor you hear.
