Walsh closing in on Jackson as Knicks coach
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AvyLPhvlsjzSEsMrTQqRJaI5nYcB?slug=aw-jacksonknicks041808&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
By Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports
As New York president Donnie Walsh prepares to push Isiah Thomas out of
Madison Square Garden for good – possibly as soon as Friday – Mark Jackson
has emerged as the new Knick boss’s choice to replace Thomas as coach, an
NBA executive familiar with Walsh’s plans said late Thursday night.
Jackson has been considered the favorite for the job, but in the last few
days, Walsh has made it clear to confidants that his old Indiana Pacers point
guard is the right man to guide the dysfunctional Knicks back toward
respectability.
As unpopular as Thomas has become in New York, the hiring of Jackson would
promise to be met by Knicks fans with enthusiasm. Jackson, who played 17 NBA
seasons, has never coached on any level, but has a strong New York basketball
pedigree that delivers his candidacy credibility.
Walsh seems determined to win back disillusioned New York fan base and beyond
winning, believes part of that process will be bringing back players that
honor the Knicks’ glory days. Jackson was the rookie of the year for the
Knicks in 1988, a flashy young point guard who made a dramatic entry into the
pros by delivering the ball to the franchise savior, Patrick Ewing.
Jackson’s hiring, the NBA source said, would be followed with Walsh reaching
out to Ewing to be a part of the coaching staff. Ewing is currently an
assistant with the Orlando Magic, and has long expressed a desire to work
with the Knicks.
Walsh and Jackson have a strong history together and that’s played a major
part in why Walsh believes so strongly in him. As Pacers president, he traded
for Jackson twice in his career. Walsh also has a history of hiring coaches
in Indiana (Thomas and Larry Bird) with no past coaching experience. In fact
last year, it’s believed that Walsh suggested to Bird, the Pacers GM, that
he consider Jackson for the team’s coaching opening, but Bird declined and
hired Jim O’Brien.
Since retiring from the NBA in 2004, Jackson has been a broadcaster for ESPN
and the New Jersey Nets broadcasts on the YES Network. At the end of the Nets
’ final regular-season game on Wednesday, Jackson apparently surprised his
bosses by telling viewers he wouldn’t return next season to the Nets’
broadcasts.
Ex-Bulls coach Scott Skiles has been considered a contender for the Knicks
job with Jackson, but multiple league sources believe that Skiles will
eventually be hired as the Milwaukee Bucks’ new coach.
“It’s inevitable,” one GM said.
---
好消息不斷，除了贏了樂透順位外，如果EWING也能如願加入團隊那最好不過了，
如果CURRY還有救....我有感覺尼克會抽中籤王了
\(￣︶￣)/ 集氣~~We Still Believe!!!
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 125.225.33.145
※ 編輯: cty 來自: 125.225.33.145 (04/19 09:01)
Knicks 近期熱門文章
PTT體育區 即時熱門文章
