NBA Rumors: New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony would 'embrace' playing for Mark Jackson

Team President Phil Jackson is facing a critical offseason in only his first few months on the job.

More from NBA

The Knicks are coming off a 37-win season that saw them miss the playoffs in the lowly Eastern Conference. They are without a coach after firing Mike Woodson and then being passed over by their top candidate, Steve Kerr, in favor of the Golden State Warriors and face the uncertain future of star forward Carmelo Anthony, who can become a free agent in the summer.

That leaves Jackson with a big question mark – does he hire a coach that is completely to his liking and will run his system or does he find one that could convince Anthony to re-sign with the Knicks?

One coach that could do just that is former Warriors’ coach Mark Jackson. According to Ian Begley of ESPN New York, Anthony would “embrace” playing for Jackson.

"But here’s what we do know: One source familiar with Anthony’s thinking on the matter said recently that the star forward would “embrace” the opportunity to play for Mark Jackson.In no way, the source stressed, does that mean Anthony wants to play only for Mark Jackson. It also doesn’t mean he would be uncomfortable playing for Fisher or any other candidate Jackson chooses to hire.But he would be content with the idea of playing for Jackson, who led Golden State to back-to-back playoff appearances.In talking to people around the NBA about Jackson and the Knicks, one point that’s been made again and again is the idea that Jackson would handle the Knicks’ locker room well."

At this time, Jackson appears to be a serious candidate for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ job.

Home/NBA

NBA Rumors: New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony would ’embrace’ playing for Mark Jackson

By Andrew Melnick | May 29, 2014