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.
GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Mike Woodson would love to return as the Knicks head coach next season, but the interim coach emphatically denied a report that he is in talks with management about a four -year contract extension.
“No, I have not. No, I have not. You guys write the articles,” Woodson said Tuesday prior to Game 5 against the Miami Heat Wednesday in Miami. “That’s not true, not at all.”
Asked if he had had general conversations with Knicks owner Jim Dolan about discussing a contract extension, Woodson reiterated, “Not at all, not at all.”
After taking over for Mike D’Antoni, Woodson led the Knicks to an 18-6 regular-season mark and on Sunday he coached the franchise to its first playoff victory since April 29, 2001 — breaking an NBA-record 13-game postseason losing streak.
Phil Jackson and Kentucky coach John Calipari have both been mentioned as potential replacements, but Calipari on Tuesday told the Daily News Woodson would be the team’s coach.
“Mike Woodson is a dear friend of mine and he is doing an unbelieveable job and he has gotten Carmelo to be the Carmelo he needs to be to win,” Calipari, who makes $5.2 million annually from salary, endorsements and bonuses, told the paper. “And I got the best job in basketball, in my opinion. You don’t need to make decisions financially, which I did the last time when I went to the Nets. Fifteen million back in 1996, when you’re a kid, is like $30 million now. At Kentucky, you can win championships. And you have a stage that really helps the young people.
“I’m not going to to the Knicks. Mike Woodson will be your coach.”
Both Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire also endorsed the return of Woodson for next year and beyond.
“Absolutely, absolutely,” Anthony said. “If they’re going to do it right now or if they’re going to wait until after the season, I would love to see him back. I support that.
“Everybody know what he did thusfar since he’s been here in the short period that he’s had the head coaching job. There’s no need to cut it off right now. We’re kind of just getting started.”
Stoudemire was more lukewarm in his support.
“We had a great run so far,” he said. “I think it’s something that we can build on for sure. As players we all love his philosophy on both ends of the court. He has a good understanding and we all get along very well, so it would be great to build something solid sooner than later.”
Said Woodson: That’s nice for them to say but it’s not about me right now. I was given an opportunity to take a team over and I gotta finish it. I mean, this is not finished. When it’s done, then I’m sure we’ll sit down and talk but at this point it’s about the guys in uniform, us getting ready to board this plane and get to Miami and try to get a win.”
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.
GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Mike Woodson would love to return as the Knicks head coach next season, but the interim coach emphatically denied a report that he is in talks with management about a four -year contract extension.
“No, I have not. No, I have not. You guys write the articles,” Woodson said Tuesday prior to Game 5 against the Miami Heat Wednesday in Miami. “That’s not true, not at all.”
Asked if he had had general conversations with Knicks owner Jim Dolan about discussing a contract extension, Woodson reiterated, “Not at all, not at all.”
After taking over for Mike D’Antoni, Woodson led the Knicks to an 18-6 regular-season mark and on Sunday he coached the franchise to its first playoff victory since April 29, 2001 — breaking an NBA-record 13-game postseason losing streak.
Phil Jackson and Kentucky coach John Calipari have both been mentioned as potential replacements, but Calipari on Tuesday told the Daily News Woodson would be the team’s coach.
“Mike Woodson is a dear friend of mine and he is doing an unbelieveable job and he has gotten Carmelo to be the Carmelo he needs to be to win,” Calipari, who makes $5.2 million annually from salary, endorsements and bonuses, told the paper. “And I got the best job in basketball, in my opinion. You don’t need to make decisions financially, which I did the last time when I went to the Nets. Fifteen million back in 1996, when you’re a kid, is like $30 million now. At Kentucky, you can win championships. And you have a stage that really helps the young people.
“I’m not going to to the Knicks. Mike Woodson will be your coach.”
Both Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire also endorsed the return of Woodson for next year and beyond.
“Absolutely, absolutely,” Anthony said. “If they’re going to do it right now or if they’re going to wait until after the season, I would love to see him back. I support that.
“Everybody know what he did thusfar since he’s been here in the short period that he’s had the head coaching job. There’s no need to cut it off right now. We’re kind of just getting started.”
Stoudemire was more lukewarm in his support.
“We had a great run so far,” he said. “I think it’s something that we can build on for sure. As players we all love his philosophy on both ends of the court. He has a good understanding and we all get along very well, so it would be great to build something solid sooner than later.”
Said Woodson: That’s nice for them to say but it’s not about me right now. I was given an opportunity to take a team over and I gotta finish it. I mean, this is not finished. When it’s done, then I’m sure we’ll sit down and talk but at this point it’s about the guys in uniform, us getting ready to board this plane and get to Miami and try to get a win.”
