Former Knick and legendary NBA coach Phil Jackson was on top of Knicks fans' wish lists after Mike D'Antoni resigned (a.k.a. was forced out) last month, though Jackson, who coached Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers to 11 championships, is reportedly very happily retired. But today is the last Knicks home game for the shortened season, so obviously it's time for the "Phil Jackson will get a monster offer to coach the Knicks" rumors!
Gery Wolefel of Wisconsin's Journal Times offers the rumor, "If the New York Knicks don’t advance beyond the first round of the playoffs, I’m hearing they’ll make a major — repeat, major — push to lure legendary coach Phil Jackson out of retirement. With money being no object, the scuttlebutt is the Knicks brass may offer the 'Zen Master' a four-year, $50 million deal."
After D'Antoni left, the pros and cons for Jackson as Knicks head coach were laid out: Pros include coming back to his first team; having the challenge of coaching the dysfunctional Knicks; and working with Jeremy Lin; cons are the fact that this team doesn't seem set up to win all the way yet; and James Dolan, James Dolan and James Dolan.
CBS Sports Royce Young thinks, "The New York rumors have swirled around Jackson since he left the Lakers are he's resisted them pretty outright. I'm sure that kind of money would intrigue him, but he's got to have the desire to come back and coach. If that's not there, or his back and health aren't up for the rigors of NBA travel, then it could probably be four years $100 million and Jackson would pass on it."
