Phil Jackson called the Knicks’ pairing of Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony “clumsy” and said he had no interest in coaching the team.
“They never called and I kind of appreciate that,” Jackson told “Real Sports with Bryant Gumblel” in an interview to air Tuesday that was obtained by the New York Post.
“Because if they called, it would open the door and they didn’t want to open the door.
“I wasn’t going to take that job, that’s for sure,” he said, adding that he had considered the position and called it “special.”
Jackson, the winner of 11 NBA rings as a coach with the Bulls and Lakers, said the Knicks were simply too “clumsy.”
“There’s just too much work that has to be done with that team,” he said. “You know? It’s just not quite — it’s clumsy. It’s a little bit of a clumsy team.”
He added: “Well, they don’t fit together well. Stoudemire doesn’t fit well with Carmelo. Stoudemire’s a really good player. But he’s got to play in a certain system and a way. Carmelo has to be a better passer, and the ball can’t stop every time it hits his hands. They need to have someone come in that can kind of blend that group together.”
Andrea Kremer conducted the interview and asked if Jackson were the perfect person to blend the talent, and Jackson said, “Yeah, well, it never happened.”
The Knicks extended interim coach Mike Woodson for three years over the Memorial Day weekend, bringing an end to the Jackson speculation.
Meantime, the Knicks are hoping to win their Bird Rights hearing so they can both keep point guard Jeremy Lin and sharpshooter Steve Novak while adding someone who can “blend that group together,” such as Steve Nash.
They expect to learn the results by July 1.
