Sporting a record of 80-166 in three seasons, New York Knicks president Phil Jackson can’t seem to stop putting the blame on everybody, including Carmelo Anthony, instead of himself.
Phil Jackson addressed the media on Friday to discuss the train-wreck of a season the New York Knicks suffered through. Somehow, the press conference turned out equally appalling as the 82-game season.
The biggest take away from Jackson’s address was the status of Carmelo Anthony.
Asked if he wants Melo back, Phil Jackson notes that Knicks haven't been able to win with him.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) April 14, 2017
The Knicks have not been able to win with Anthony the past three seasons, but they certainly have not been able to win with Jackson either.
The bad blood between Jackson and Anthony has been evident throughout Jackson’s entire tenure. This did not stop Jackson from tying the Knicks and his future to Anthony.
When Phil Jackson signed Carmelo Anthony five-year, $124 million deal with a full no-trade clause during the summer of 2014, he made Carmelo Anthony his franchise player. Fast-forward three seasons later and the President of the Knicks wants Anthony out of town.
Melo is a member of the New York Knicks because Phil Jackson decided he was part of the Knicks’ long-term plans. Giving Anthony a no-trade clause furthered this point.
Anthony’s no-trade clause has been one of the biggest mistakes of Jackson’s tenure, and there have been many. Jackson had the opportunity to trade Anthony last season or the season before when he had value, but he could not pull the trigger due to Anthony being able to cancel any proposed trade. Teams know the Knicks have no leverage and do not have to offer large packages for number seven.
Jackson also added that the Knicks have never developed any chemistry.
Phil Jackson the Knicks starters never developed chemistry or consistency to win close games.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) April 14, 2017
Chemistry is hard to improve when money is thrown at a center who makes nearly twenty million dollars annually yet can not make it on the court. Chemistry is hard to develop when the starting point guard you traded for misses all of training camp due to distractions outside the basketball court.
It’s hard to improve when the head coach is forced to run an out of date system he does not feel comfortable running. And of course, chemistry is hard to develop when you continue a running feud with the premier player on your basketball team.
Jackson seems to be missing the point. The Knicks are certainly limited by their franchise starter. He’s certainly not the same perennial All-Star he once was. Anthony seems to be the only Knick holding the locker room together and keeping this situation from escalating.
Jackson has created a culture of ambiguity and divisiveness during his time in New York. Declining to offer comments during the season, typing subtle tweets and failing to adapt to the new NBA has given the Knicks a miserable culture.
Jackson’s culture.
Knicks owner James Dolan picked up Jackson’s two-year option to remain with the Knicks. This means that Jackson will likely last longer than Anthony in New York, but his culture will continue for the foreseeable future.
