Although Phil Jackson is reportedly uninterested in coaching the New York Knicks, it doesn't rule out the possibility of him returning to Madison Square Garden in another capacity. Knicks owner James Dolan would consider hiring Jackson to a front office position, the New York Daily News reports.
Jackson wants to return to the NBA in a role that allows him to build and run a team. With Dolan appearing unlikely to get Jackson as his next coach, the owner is reportedly contemplating the idea of giving the ex-Lakers coach a role in the Knicks' front office.
"According to a source, the Knicks would consider offering Jackson a front office position," Frank Isola of The Daily News wrote on Friday. "Jackson has said he wants to run a team and would be intrigued by returning to the franchise where his playing career began."
Assuming the Knicks did offer Jackson a front office role, it's uncertain how interested he'd be in working for Dolan, who has a reputation as a very "hands-on" owner.
"The Knicks would presumably give Jackson full autonomy but Donnie Walsh was promised full control only to have Dolan interfere with several moves, including the signing of (Amar'e) Stoudemire and trading for (Carmelo) Anthony," Isola wrote.
While the Knicks may offer Jackson a front office job, they reportedly first approached him to gauge his interest in returning to the sidelines as a coach.
Per ESPN:
"New York Knicks president and general manager Steve Mills met about two weeks ago with Phil Jackson about the possibility of Jackson becoming the team's next coach, sources told ESPN's Stephen A. Smith.
"The sources told Smith the message the Knicks received from Jackson was that he was not interested in the position at this time."
Jackson, winner of 11 NBA championships as a coach, retired from coaching after the 2010-11 season with the Lakers.
