Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson has already spurned Brooklyn’s offer to become the next Brooklyn Nets head coach, saying he has no interest in returning to coaching. But that hasn’t stopped him from talking about the franchise on more than one occasion.
After saying to Dan Patrick earlier this week that Brooklyn was the most attractive destination coaching-wise, Jackson expounded on his comments by commending Brooklyn’s roster in the New York Times, saying that he prefers it to the New York Knicks:
“The Knicks still have to find some accommodating group of guys that know how to play ball together, move the ball, play the game the right way,” he said. “With Brooklyn, if you’ve got a point guard and a solid center, or a good point guard and a great center, you’ve got two of the pieces that you want to have toward a champion.”
The Nets lost in the first round of the NBA playoffs to the Chicago Bulls in seven games, while the Knicks made it to the second round before losing to the Indiana Pacers in six. The Nets also have a roster better suited for Jackson’s famed triangle offense, which may be why he prefers them.
Jackson has repeated that he’s interested in returning to the NBA in an organizational capacity, but not on the sidelines. He was not offered a front office job in Brooklyn.
Harvey Araton, New York Times — Teams Need Help, but Jackson Stays on the Perimeter
