By Charley Rosen Posted on September 19, 2016

Over the course of the 2015-16 NBA season, Today’s Fastbreak’s Charley Rosen met with New York Knicks president Phil Jackson to discuss the state of the team. In the final part of “The Phil Jackson Chronicles” for the year, Phil talked the hiring of Jeff Hornacek.

In a move that surprised most NBA watchers, Phil Jackson hired Jeff Hornacek to coach the New York Knicks. Jackson had plenty to say about the whys and wherefores of this critical decision.

“Back when I was coaching in the CBA, I’d read the college and NBA box scores in the newspapers along with the brief game descriptions printed above them. I’d keep track of players who made big shots or any kind of game-changing plays. And Jeff’s name came up quite frequently. Like when he hit a game-tying shot and then the game-winner in overtime to give Iowa State a NCAA Tournament win in 1986. Then, two days later, he led the team to an upset win over Michigan.

“Despite having an outstanding college career, Jeff was not invited to the Chicago combine after his senior year. However, Bobby Knight had been impressed with Jeff when Iowa State played Indiana, so he called Jerry Colangelo and got Jeff an invite. Colangelo was the head man in Phoenix and he saw enough to draft Jeff in the second round.

“When I became an assistant coach with the Bulls, I was able to closely follow Jeff’s pro career. I liked his demeanor on the court. His scrappiness, his cool head, the way he always competed. And if a win-or-lose shot came to him, he wasn’t afraid to take it. If he wasn’t the quickest guy out there, Jeff played very good positional defense. It was interesting to watch his growth and, when I became the Bulls’ head coach, I was always trying to find a way to bring him to Chicago.

“After his rookie year in the NBA, Jeff was making about 82 percent of his free throws, but he knew there was some glitch in his shot that he had to correct. With his wife rebounding, Jeff kept working on his release until he realized that his left thumb was on the ball. His wife then suggested that he tape the thumb to his hand and it worked. His free throw shooting kept improving until he was 95 percent accurate from the stripe. That kind of diligence and motivation to constantly improve also impressed me.

“After Jeff retired, he was still living in Phoenix but accepted a job as Utah’s shooting coach. Whenever he could, Jeff would commute from Phoenix to Salt Lake City so he could spend as much time as possible with his family. So, his being such a devoted family man was another thing that impressed me.

“Later on, when he became the head coach at Phoenix, I liked the way his players had freedom within a structure, which is exactly how the triangle should function. Jeff was a good system coach, something that I felt was absolutely necessary for whomever I would think of hiring. Jeff also had a very positive impact on young players, helping them to believe in themselves.

“I watched the way Jeff talked to his players during timeouts. He was positive, helpful and not interested in publicly embarrassing them. I also liked the way he spoke to his bench players during free throws and dead-ball situations. He was always a teacher. Even though Jeff had been an All-Star and a 20-point-a-game scorer, he has no ego, but he still knows that he’s had a great deal of success. It’s an admirable balance.

“It was Kurt Rambis who first suggested Jeff. They had played together in Phoenix for several seasons so Kurt had a good read on Jeff. The Suns’ coach was Cotton Fitzsimmons who had been an assistant at Kansas State under Tex Winter. So Cotton knew the triangle, ran pieces of it and believed in system basketball. It was there that Jeff teamed up with Kevin Johnson in a two-guard offense, which is how the triangle is formatted.

“Jeff had great success in his rookie season on the bench in Phoenix, leading the Suns to 48 wins. But last year (2014-15), the Phoenix franchise experienced a great deal of turmoil that was beyond his control. The Suns’ front office decided to trade Isaiah Thomas and Goran Dragic. Then the main guy they traded for, Brandon Knight, got hurt. I saw it all happening from a distance and, through it all, Jeff did a good job. He was left with inferior talent, but his guys played hard and tried to play the right way.

“The first time we met was in Los Angeles and spoke for about six hours. We diagrammed plays and discussed various offenses and defenses. I liked the way he saw the whole game and how every part was interrelated. Jeff also said that he believes in visualization, that a shooter should visualize the ball going through the hoop every time he shoots.

“I could easily visualize him coaching the Knicks, and I was sold.

“The next day, Jeff flew back to New York with me to meet the staff. We had what we thought would be a private dinner with Steve Mills, the paparazzi found us and our pictures were all over newspapers and the internet. This was unfortunate because I hadn’t had a chance to inform the other guys I’d interviewed that they were no longer in the running.

“In sum, I like our relationship. As far as his own game plan, all I did was to give Jeff the basic format that I like and he was enthusiastic about using it. But I understand that he has to coach what he knows how to coach. His plans for fastbreaks, early offense, build-up drills and the like are up to him.

“I’m positive that Jeff has the expertise and the attitude that will play a crucial role in making the Knicks’ future a bright one.”

Malcolm wrote:“Later on, when he became the head coach at Phoenix, I liked the way his players had freedom within a structure, which is exactly how the triangle should function. Jeff was a good system coach, something that I felt was absolutely necessary for whomever I would think of hiring. Jeff also had a very positive impact on young players, helping them to believe in themselves . . .

. . . Jeff also said that he believes in visualization, that a shooter should visualize the ball going through the hoop every time he shoots.

. . . As far as his own game plan, all I did was to give Jeff the basic format that I like and he was enthusiastic about using it.

I've been worried . . . but looks okay now.

Nalod wrote:So the dot connectors who had spend precious time in life slamming phil about Rambis does not have their "told you so" moment, or the time back.
Seems to me Coach Jeff will run Phil's system by proxy. Phil easily saw where Rambis was not a good communicator and did what was necessary.
I doubt he caved into fans outcry. Phil does not listen to you. I doubt Dolan had any input given all the bravado that he would not interfere.

fishmike wrote:

Nalod wrote:So the dot connectors who had spend precious time in life slamming phil about Rambis does not have their "told you so" moment, or the time back.
Seems to me Coach Jeff will run Phil's system by proxy. Phil easily saw where Rambis was not a good communicator and did what was necessary.
I doubt he caved into fans outcry. Phil does not listen to you. I doubt Dolan had any input given all the bravado that he would not interfere.

yea... boy people were 100% convinced it was Rambis, than when it wasn't Rambis it was all about a power play vs. Dolan and Phil not getting his way. The truth is telling.

Nothing in that article ever touches on the candidacy of Kurt Rambis, which Jackson was quoted as saying he was considering. So Jackson didn't address what happened with Rambis's candidacy at all. Sometimes you can tell the "Truth" and leave out some stuff.

Nalod wrote:

EnySpree wrote:All these months later now we get a Rambis recommended Hornacek article....

Too bad Phil don't pander to the internet fan who knows better than him.
Do you think phil is thinking "Hmmm, if I put this out it will make Rambis look better?"
Should Rambis be judged for wanting the head coaching gig?
Was it ever really in play unless he made the playoffs? Obviously if they did, he would have had a fantastic effect on the team and earned it.
Was Phils overt affection for Rambis a smoke screen? Phil thinks most things are not for public digestion until its done.

Bottom line is Wins and losses, so really why would Phil like? He'll be grilled if the team flounders and celebrated if succeeds.
Knicks had a good off season, the games will tell the real story.

That's the thing that angers me so much.... when the media puts something out there, alot of guys here and in the real work go ballistic.... and it's not even the whole story! Only person I care about is Phil. Whenot he makes his reports that's what it is.... the media would or out articles saying Phil wants to do xyz even after Phil already addressedthe same touches in a interview....

Sigh.... just a few more weeks

crzymdups wrote:

fishmike wrote:

Nalod wrote:So the dot connectors who had spend precious time in life slamming phil about Rambis does not have their "told you so" moment, or the time back.
Seems to me Coach Jeff will run Phil's system by proxy. Phil easily saw where Rambis was not a good communicator and did what was necessary.
I doubt he caved into fans outcry. Phil does not listen to you. I doubt Dolan had any input given all the bravado that he would not interfere.

yea... boy people were 100% convinced it was Rambis, than when it wasn't Rambis it was all about a power play vs. Dolan and Phil not getting his way. The truth is telling.

Nothing in that article ever touches on the candidacy of Kurt Rambis, which Jackson was quoted as saying he was considering. So Jackson didn't address what happened with Rambis's candidacy at all. Sometimes you can tell the "Truth" and leave out some stuff.

This is a tight org.. the days of knowing before we know are over. Rose trade was speculated on, but none of the other big news. No hint on the JH hire, no hint on the KP pick... the most we heard from him was that he had talked to agents and expected to be able to sign players, but never mentioned any or gave any clues. None.

crzymdups wrote:

fishmike wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

fishmike wrote:

Nalod wrote:So the dot connectors who had spend precious time in life slamming phil about Rambis does not have their "told you so" moment, or the time back.
Seems to me Coach Jeff will run Phil's system by proxy. Phil easily saw where Rambis was not a good communicator and did what was necessary.
I doubt he caved into fans outcry. Phil does not listen to you. I doubt Dolan had any input given all the bravado that he would not interfere.

yea... boy people were 100% convinced it was Rambis, than when it wasn't Rambis it was all about a power play vs. Dolan and Phil not getting his way. The truth is telling.

Nothing in that article ever touches on the candidacy of Kurt Rambis, which Jackson was quoted as saying he was considering. So Jackson didn't address what happened with Rambis's candidacy at all. Sometimes you can tell the "Truth" and leave out some stuff.

When has Phil been honest about a move before it happened? The point is we just don't know. Where is the quote that says he was considering Rambis? Im not saying he didn't make that quote, only that Phil tends to say things literally I think to mess with the media.

This is a tight org.. the days of knowing before we know are over. Rose trade was speculated on, but none of the other big news. No hint on the JH hire, no hint on the KP pick... the most we heard from him was that he had talked to agents and expected to be able to sign players, but never mentioned any or gave any clues. None.

So Phil used his good friend Kurt Rambis as a sacrificial lamb to the media? Um... why? To what end?

Isn't it just as likely that he wanted to hire Rambis as the coach, as he said in quotes (I'm not googling them), as many NY beat reporters thought, as many people working in the Knicks organization were expecting... and something changed? Whether it was player exit interviews or a meeting with Mills or something?

You're telling me you didn't notice a change in philosophy and direction of the team from say early April when Phil was strongly hinting at Rambis, saying the Knicks would go underground to get a PG and didn't want to invest too many assets in that position... and then there are exit interviews, Phil takes his road trip to Montana, comes back and hires Hornacek, trades for Derrick Rose, signs Joakim Noah, Courtney Lee, Brandon Jennings...

So instead of changing his mind or being told no on Rambis, you're saying that he knew all along he wouldn't hire Rambis, but decided to have his good friend mocked by the media and fanbase publicly so he could play a mind game with the media that served almost no purpose? That really doesn't make sense to me.

Also, the organization is tight... but Stuff gets out of the organization. The Rose rumor leaked a few days before it happened, the Noah rumor was there for weeks after the Rose trade, etc. There were enough hints on the KP pick that it was my prediction before the draft - the workout where Phil said he looked good, but got injured and had to shut it down. Too obvious.

I think Phil thinks he's being very clever and mysterious, but as the old saying goes he's too clever by half.

Also, Phil said in response to the DRose trade and free agent signings that it came out of talking to Melo in the season ending meeting they had. (Which he doesn't mention in Charlie Rosen's report) So isn't it quite possible that before that season-ending meeting with Melo and maybe also KP and some other key players, Phil planned to retain Rambis? And then upon hearing Melo and KP's take on Rambis, and maybe Mills/Dolan's take on Rambis, Phil decided to change course and go after Hornacek and also acquire two name Point Guards in Rose and Jennings (again something he said he wouldn't do in early April)?

I think that is more likely than Phil wanted Hornacek all along but used his good friend Rambis as a smokescreen, which is what some of you seem to be implying.

I think it is quite likely that Phil is giving Rambis some credit for the Hornacek hire in order to ease any perceived tension between Rambis being a head coach candidate from the previous regime on Hornacek's bench. That's an awkward situation and Phil may be trying to defuse it.

I think you look at things from a fans point of view, which we all do. The thing is, Phil did want to retain Rambis, but he didn't say to what capacity.
Its pretty evident that phil does not play things thru the media unless It suits him FOR THE MOST PART. He does not care about the SAS because its just commentary.
From a competitive standpoint its important he doe what he does not broadcast it. Coaching search was his gig, not for public consumption. If Reporters or media hounds want to voice an opinion or what not, its kind of a hobby for some fans to piece things together and it gets regurgitated into a blog, and then sort of becomes legit to some extent.
That's the process. Its fun to speculate and offer opinion, but some fans feel like they know better and feel like they are part of the process. SAS thinks he speaks for NYC!!!!
Any talk about his failure to get Greg Monroe is a complete waste of energy. Phil needed a center so Aldridge was off the table. Etc etc.
Phil, like all exec make mistakes. Nothing perfect!!!!

fishmike wrote:

Nalod wrote:So the dot connectors who had spend precious time in life slamming phil about Rambis does not have their "told you so" moment, or the time back.
Seems to me Coach Jeff will run Phil's system by proxy. Phil easily saw where Rambis was not a good communicator and did what was necessary.
I doubt he caved into fans outcry. Phil does not listen to you. I doubt Dolan had any input given all the bravado that he would not interfere.

yea... boy people were 100% convinced it was Rambis, than when it wasn't Rambis it was all about a power play vs. Dolan and Phil not getting his way. The truth is telling.

It was the Media acting like Rambis was almost a lock, and that phil was just interviewing to please melo, no one on this site want rambis, although a handful was ok with the idea