Phil Jackson starting to shape Knicks presidency — and isn’t going anywhere
By Marc Berman April 19, 2016 | 9:45pm

It’s almost time to believe Phil Jackson. It’s almost time to believe the Knicks president is in it for the long haul — or as he put it last month in Los Angeles: “I’m still in it and I’m in it to win it, so to speak.’’

And the only way Jackson knows how to win it, win 11 titles, is to drill the triangle home into summer. As part of his end-of-season wrap-up, Jackson gathered roughly a half-dozen mostly young Knicks on Tuesday for a triangle workshop — a film session, a meeting, a little on-court demonstration.

It was exactly one week since their season finale in Indiana, but Jackson felt the need to give some of his players one last thing to think about during the long offseason — having them work on proper footwork so integral to the triangle’s efficiency. He let them know the season is never really over.

Jackson worked alongside still-interim coach Kurt Rambis, the closest person to a triangle guru aside from Jackson himself. Many Knicks have departed the area, but some of the young players are still working out and rehabbing — Kristaps Porzingis (shoulder), Tony Wroten (knee), Jerian Grant, Cleanthony Early and Langston Galloway.

This is an entirely different president than the one before Feb. 8, the one who was kept at a distance by uncommunicative Derek Fisher. Jackson is starting to feel his oats now, enjoying the job a bit more as he gets to do what he does best — teach the system offense.

According to associates, Jackson was way more involved in Rambis’ practices, demonstrating mistakes, and his former Lakers buddy welcomed it. Fisher wouldn’t allow it.

It’s the best thing Rambis has going for him as Jackson sees if he can catch lightning in a bottle on a next head coach in Luke Walton. Or he will just install his buddy who thinks a lot like him — give Rambis a training camp and a real chance for the pair to work together.

“I think he stays with his guy — maybe he’s conducting this search to appease the media,’’ one league executive said. “What they need is better personnel.’’

Jackson has an opt-out after next season. If he truly was eyeing an exit strategy to Los Angeles, there’d be no triangle seminar, he would let general manager Steve Mills, his successor, control the coaching search and interview the guys Minnesota interviews — Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy, Tom Thibodeau. Well, maybe not Thibodeau.

Jackson was asked again Thursday if he’s looking at fulfilling the five years — a contract that ends on March, 2019.

“Yeah, I am,” Jackson said. “You know, we got a few bricks in the load this year. Not as many as I had hoped, but we have a few bricks in the foundation and we’re starting to go forward. I would like to have stones, but bricks sometimes will be OK, too, in a foundation.”

It would be easy for Jackson to hire whom the media wants him to hire. But Jackson won a record 11 titles coaching his way. Despite the analytic triangle critics deeming it old-fashioned and lacking 3-point shot attempts, Jackson will play those odds.

“The energy that I have is directed toward turning this team around and it’s taken my full effort, and so far it’s been a challenge,’’ Jackson said last month.

He’s very soon off to his beach house in Los Angeles to ride his bike alongside the Pacific and spend time with fiancée, Jeanie Buss — maybe check out the Warriors in Oakland — but he’s coming back as surely as the triangle.

These are his babies too. He's directly responsible for all the players but especially the young players on this team. This is something new for him and I have to think it's energizing him to experience this. Why in the world would he want to leave this. Despite the disappointing season, this is basketball heaven for him. Lot of eager young minds to teach and more on the way.

All are getting paid to do absolutely
Squat.

Amazing!