West: Jackson Would be 'Popular' Hire for Knicks | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Friday / March 29.
  • West: Jackson Would be ‘Popular’ Hire for Knicks

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    Apparently Knicks fans aren’t the only ones who think Phil Jackson would be a good hire for the team.

    Former Lakers GM Jerry West agrees.

    “I think it would be an unbelievably popular hire,” West, speaking hypothetically, told Karen Crouse of The New York Times. “It’s probably a shame if he doesn’t coach again.”

    Jackson, 66, told the Times Monday that he twice turned down chances to coach the Knicks, for whom he played from 1967-78. Jackson won 11 NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls and Lakers.

    With current coach Mike D’Antoni mired in a six-game losing streak and openly counting on Baron Davis to be the team’s savior, some Knick fans are ready for a change.

    After Saturday’s 119-114 double-OT loss to the Denver Nuggets, fans chanted, “Fire D’Antoni” and “Phil Jackson.”

    West told the Times he and Jackson had a chilly relationship during their shared tenure, which led to a three-peat of NBA titles from 2000-02.

    “It was evident I didn’t have a relationship with Phil,” he said. “I respected him for what he did. He did the job he was hired to do.

    “He’s done great work everywhere he’s been.”

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    Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.

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