Phil Jackson Reflects on Knicks Tenure and Relationship with Carmelo Anthony

Phil Jackson’s legacy with the New York Knicks isn’t exactly glowing, despite his earlier victory as a player in 1973. His stint as team president, which began in 2014, resulted in a disappointing record of 80-166.

Throughout this period, it became increasingly evident that Jackson and star player Carmelo Anthony had considerable disagreements. Jackson touches on this fallout in his upcoming book, Masters of the Game, set to be released next Tuesday.

Jackson attributes the main reason for his departure from the Knicks to the “breakdown” in his relationship with Anthony. He recounts a conversation with owner James Dolan, who expressed concern over media scrutiny. Jackson, however, seemed unbothered, saying, “I know who the media is,” suggesting that media pressure didn’t faze him. Yet, Dolan felt it was too much, reflecting on his own tough experiences with the press. Jackson mentioned that perhaps it was best for everyone involved if he left, given the rift with Anthony.

Interestingly, Jackson approached Dolan about the possibility of trading Anthony. He noted that with the team not aiming for a championship, “Carmelo wants a championship. He wants to be on a team that has a chance, and he should be.” After leaving the Knicks, Anthony eventually waived his no-trade clause to join the Oklahoma City Thunder, which marked the end of his time with the Knicks. Jackson had hoped to buy out Anthony’s contract but faced pushback from ownership.

Much of the tension stemmed from Jackson’s insistence on employing the triangle offense, a strategy that had previously worked wonders with the Bulls and Lakers, but one that Anthony was reluctant to embrace. Jackson recalled feedback from former head coach Jeff Hornacek, who said that Anthony preferred to have the ball in his hands.

Complicating matters further, Jackson faced an intense situation with Kristaps Porzingis, his first draft pick as a Knicks executive. It was a challenging time for Jackson, one filled with navigational difficulties in both team strategy and player relationships.