Phil Jackson disciple Kurt Rambis is reportedly negotiating a new contract to remain with the New York Knicks for next season.
The New York Knicks are bringing back Kurt Rambis. Sorry.Per Ian Begley of ESPN New York, the former Knicks assistant and interim head coach is currently working on a new contract to join Jeff Hornacek‘s staff.
Since Hornacek was hired to be the head coach he has done nothing but praise the man who he beat out for his new position. Hornacek first spoke about his old Phoenix Suns teammate after his introductory press conference (via NY Post).
“It would probably be more awkward if I didn’t know Kurt, but I do know Kurt from our playing days, we talked about a lot of things. How if we kept him on, what his role would be. It was a good talk. … I know Kurt pretty well. We’ll continue to talk and if it works out, we’ll figure it out then.’’
Given how involved Rambis was in offseason activities like Jackson’s triangle seminar and the draft combine in Chicago this move doesn’t come as a surprise.
Sources: Kurt Rambis, Knicks negotiating a new contract to work on Jeff Hornacek's staff. Details here: https://t.co/An2r3jCNek
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 8, 2016
When Jackson spoke to SNY on Monday, giving Rambis yet another ringing endorsement, it seemed like a lock his running mate would return to the bench.
Hornacek has spoken about wanting to use the triangle, and will likely lean on Rambis for help. That didn’t out well for Derek Fisher.
The Cleveland Cavaliers kept Tyronn Lue on to “help” David Blatt after Blatt beat him out for the head coaching job there. That ended horribly for Blatt.
Hornacek is playing a dangerous game in keeping close someone who was once his competition. Rambis’ loyalty is not to his head coach, but to Jackson. Hornacek was edged out in Phoenix because he was scapegoated.
https://youtu.be/Njpw6jlr-Vw
You would think he’d be surrounding himself with people he knows he can trust. If he feels that way about Kurt Rambis, who he played with for all of two and a half seasons, good luck to him.
