Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks watches from the bench during the second half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on March 9, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Knicks defeated the Suns 128-97.. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP
New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony on Tuesday poured cold water on the notion that club president Phil Jackson could return to coaching duties.
“Phil ain’t coaching no more, man,” Anthony said as the Knicks trained in Oakland, California, ahead of their Wednesday meeting with the NBA Champion Golden State Warriors.
“Let’s kill that rumor. Phil ain’t coaching no more.”
An ESPN.com report vaguely suggesting that 70-year-old coaching great Jackson — who won 11 championships coaching the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers — might consider coaching Knicks home games next season created a bit of buzz around the league.
Anthony admitted he wasn’t in favor and Kurt Rambis, who has served as interim coach since Derek Fisher was summarily sacked in February, said he didn’t think Jackson wanted to return to the bench.
“Coaching is a grind,” Rambis said. “I don’t see him. He’s never given me an indication that he wants to go through that again.”
Anthony is just hoping that Jackson, in his current executive role, finds a good coaching fit for the struggling team — even if it means moving away from Rambis next season.
“I think you consider Kurt at that job,” Anthony said. “But I think you still have to go out there and at least listen to other candidates out there.”