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Phil Jackson is not well remembered in New York Knicks history, although he won a championship with the team as a player in 1973.
The former longtime head coach, who won 11 titles on the sidelines, joined the Knicks in 2014 as team president, and during his tenure they went 80-166.
During his tenure, it became clear that Carmelo Anthony and Jackson did not get along for several reasons, which Jackson all but confirms in his new book, “Masters of the Game,” scheduled for release next Tuesday.
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Phil Jackson maintains control of the ball when New York Knicks Carmelo Anthony attempts to steal the ball from him during Knicks training camp Tuesday, September 30, 2014 at Christl Arena at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. (Robert Sabo/NY Daily News via Getty Images)
Jackson said the mutual separation was largely due to her “broken” relationship with Anthony.
“[Owner James] Dolan said to me, “Are you going to get run out of town by the media?” I said, “I know who the media are; It doesn’t affect me,” Jackson wrote, according to the New York Post. “But Dolan felt it was too much. He said, “I don’t want you to go through this. I know what it’s like to deal with these people. I said, “Unfortunately, my relationship with Carmelo is kind of broken, and if he’s going to be here, it’s probably best that I go.”
Jackson also said he approached Dolan with the idea of trading Anthony, because “We’re not going to win a championship. Carmelo wants a championship; he wants to be on a team that has a chance, and he should be; he’s a Hall of Famer.”
New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony controls the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. (Brad Penner/USA Today Sports)
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Much of the drama occurred between Jackson’s insistence on running the triangle offense that fueled both the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers dynasties, which Anthony wanted no part of.
“[Former head coach Jeff] Hornacek said Carmelo wanted the ball,” Jackson said.
Anthony ultimately waived his no-trade clause to join the Oklahoma City Thunder three months after Jackson left the Knicks. This remains his last job in the NBA. Jackson wanted to buy out Anthony’s contract, whose ownership was denied.
Lakers head coach Phil Jackson leaves the court after being swept by the Mavericks in Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals in Dallas. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Jackson also ended up getting into some high-profile drama with Kristaps Porzingis, who was the first player Jackson selected in the draft as a Knicks executive.
