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Report: Knicks met with Phil Jackson

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Posted: Saturday May 22, 1999 10:44 PM

The Knicks' improbable playoff run may be all that keeps Phil Jackson from taking over New York next season. AP

NEW YORK (AP) -- The president of Madison Square Garden met secretly with Phil Jackson nearly a month ago to inquire whether the former coach of the six-time champion Chicago Bulls would be interested in taking over the Knicks, The New York Times reported Sunday.

Citing two sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Times said Knicks president Dave Checketts made no offer to Jackson at the 90-minute meeting but gauged his interest in coaching the team.

At the time the meeting took place, Ernie Grunfeld was still the team president and general manager. He was relieved of his duties by Checketts shortly thereafter.

In the weeks since, the Knicks have turned around their season by qualifying for the playoffs, defeating the Miami Heat in the first round and taking a 2-0 lead over the Atlanta Hawks in the second round heading into Sunday's Game 3.

The team's resurgence has fueled talk that coach Jeff Van Gundy's job is safe for another year, although Checketts has said he will wait until the season ends before making any personnel decisions. Van Gundy has one more year remaining on a three-year, $6 million contract.

Speculation over the possible hiring of Jackson was commonplace this season while the Knicks were struggling, and center Patrick Ewing said he would demand a trade rather than play for Jackson.

"It shocks me," Ewing said of the meeting between Checketts and Jackson, which the Times said was also attended by Jackson's agent, Todd Musburger. "I've said it. I'm not playing for Phil Jackson. There's no way. They can trade me if they get Phil."

The New Jersey Nets are among the other teams interested in hiring Jackson, who took a year off from basketball after leading the Bulls to the championship last June.

Checketts, through a spokesman, denied that any meeting with Jackson or his representatives took place -- as did Musburger. Jackson could not be reached, and Van Gundy declined comment.

 

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