If Phil Jackson plans to return to coaching next season, it sounds like the Knicks are going to do everything it takes to make sure he’s patrolling the sidelines at Madison Square Garden. Although Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire recently said they would like to see Mike Woodson return next season, it’s no secret that the Knicks want the Zen Master to be their guy.
According to Gery Woelfel of journaltimes.com, the Knicks plan to make a major push to coax Jackson out of retirement if they are bounced in the first round of the playoffs. How major? It is believed that money won’t be an object, and that New York will offer the coaching legend a four-year, $50 million contract. Now that’s some coaching money.
The Knicks have certainly had their problems since acquiring Anthony, but Jackson’s reputation for handling superstars is unmatched. From M.J. to Kobe to Shaq, the Zen Master always finds a way to make it work. Considering he played with the Knicks for 11 seasons in the 1960s and 1970s, it would make some sense for Jackson to return to the Knicks if he does indeed return.
That is a big if. At age 66, Jackson has won 11 NBA titles. Simply put, he has absolutely nothing left to prove as a head coach in the NBA. If he does decide to return, it will be because he can’t stay away from the game. Not to mention, there’s no guarantee he could fix the problems New York has in a short span of time. One thing Phil would certainly do is create a buzz and sell tickets.
H/T I Am a GM
Photo credit: Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRE
