Mike Woodson Fired, Steve Kerr to Coach Knicks?
I'll Be 'Talking With Phil Jackson at Some Point,' Says NBA Analyst
Mike Woodson was fired as head coach of the New York Knicks Monday, and his entire coaching staff left with him. Now that Woodson is gone, which was to be expected – the Knicks went 37-45 and failed to make the playoffs – new president Phil Jackson must find a new coach soon, and it's possible he could be looking to Steve Kerr to fill the position.
Mike Woodson's firing largely had to do with the will of team owner James L. Dolan, who promised Jackson complete autonomy as president. Though that largely means bringing in his own people who will teach his famed triangle offense, Jackson still said the Knicks should be grateful for Woodson's work over the last two years.
"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Mike Woodson and his entire staff," he said in a statement Monday morning. "The coaches and players on this team had an extremely difficult 2013-14 season, and blame should not be put on one individual. But the time has come for change throughout the franchise as we start the journey to assess and build this team for next season and beyond."
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"Everyone in this franchise owes a great deal of gratitude to what Mike and his staff have done," he added.
Kerr, the 48-year-old 5-time NBA champion and current TNT broadcast analyst, is now the talk of the town as a possible replacement for Woodson. He admitted that the rumors have some credence when he said he anticipates "talking with Phil Jackson at some point." The two have been friends for years, he revealed on his SiriusXM NBA Radio show.
"I would often have dinner with him on the road if I was playing for another team even, just to catch up," Kerr said Monday. "I went to his daughter's wedding a few years ago in Montana. We've been very close."
"And so I've known for years that Phil wanted to do this … I knew that he was done with coaching (and) that he was more interested in being a team president and building a franchise," he continued. "And I think he'll be very good at it. It's going to be very interesting and obviously my name is being thrown around. I do anticipate at least being part of the conversation and we'll see where it all goes."
