Report: Phil Jackson will make Kurt Rambis Knicks coach if James Dolan lets him

Phil Jackson really, really seems to like his executive control over the New York Knicks.

According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, Jackson intends to give Kurt Rambis a contract extension to make him the full-time head coach as long as owner James Dolan doesn’t stand in the way.

Isola characterizes Rambis as Jackson’s “one and only” choice to coach the Knicks, with the belief that Jackson is allowed very hands-on access to the team during practices under Rambis. Knicks players have reportedly noticed Jackson taking a more active role in running the team, and Jackson reportedly wants a coach who will do things his way.

Dolan, meanwhile, has not yet signed off on giving Rambis the job, though he isn’t necessarily opposed either. The Knicks owner is apparently making sure he has a safety net in place in the event that things go awry and Jackson leaves or is fired, having reportedly eyed Raptors GM Masai Ujiri as a potential successor.

Jackson seems to want to coach the Knicks without actually coaching them. We already knew who he won’t hire as Knicks coach, but Rambis has shown little in his stint in New York, and even less in his previous job in Minnesota. Hiring him looks, frankly, like a move to keep power in Jackson’s hands.