Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Thursday 29 June 2017
Knicks, Phil Jackson part ways after dismal 3-year run

BY BRIAN MAHONEY with some of the game’s tional Basketball Players
AP BASKETBALL WRITER biggest stars like Michael Association - though the
NEW YORK (AP) - Phil Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal All-Star forward has two
Jackson wanted to trade and Kobe Bryant. He also years left on the five-year,
Carmelo Anthony and played for the Knicks when $124 million deal that Jack-
wouldn’t rule out dealing they won NBA titles in 1970 son gave him shortly after
Kristaps Porzingis. and 1973. taking the job.
Turns out, Jackson is the He was welcomed back to Anthony has a no-trade
one leaving. the organization with a $60 clause and has said he
Jackson is out as New York million contract to huge wants to stay in New York,
Knicks president after he fanfare in March 2014, but and the stalemate that
oversaw one of the worst it soon became clear the hung over the team for
eras in team history, with transition would be a poor much of last season threat-
the team saying in a state- one. ened to linger throughout
ment Wednesday that His first coaching hire, Der- the summer.
they had “mutually agreed ek Fisher, lasted just 1½ sea- Then Jackson said before
to part company.” In this April 14, 2017, file photo, New York Knicks president Phil sons, and Jackson’s trades the draft that he was listen-
Days after Jackson reiter- Jackson answers questions during a news conference at the and free agency moves ing to offers for Porzingis,
ated his desire to move An- team’s training facility in Greenburgh, N.Y. also failed to improve the the 21-year-old forward
thony and said he would Associated Press club. from Latvia whom he draft-
listen to deals for Porzingis, executive was awful. The a week after Jackson led “I had hoped, of course, to ed with the No. 4 pick in
Madison Square Garden winner of an NBA-record 11 the Knicks through the bring another NBA cham- 2015 in one of his few suc-
chairman James Dolan championships as coach, NBA draft and on the eve pionship to the Garden. cessful moves.
reversed course and cut Jackson couldn’t engineer of free agency that opens As someone who treasures Coach Jeff Hornacek, in
ties with Jackson with two one playoff berth while run- Saturday. Dolan said he winning, I am deeply dis- Orlando with the Knicks’
years remaining on his con- ning the Knicks. The team would not be involved in appointed that we weren’t team preparing for sum-
tract. was 80-166 in his three full the operation of the team, able to do that,” Jackson mer league, thanked Jack-
“After careful thought and seasons, including a fran- adding that general man- said. “New York fans de- son for bringing him to New
consideration, we mutually chise-worst 17-65 in 2014- ager Steve Mills would run serve nothing less. I wish York last summer.
agreed that the Knicks will 15. the day-to-day business in them and the Knicks orga- “It’s a tough day for us but
be going in a different di- His departure was quickly the short term and that for- nization all the best - today our group, really our focus
rection,” Dolan said. “Phil welcomed by Knicks fans mer Toronto executive Tim and always.” is to get this team bet-
Jackson is one of the most such as film director Spike Leiweke would advise him The turbulence he created ter, continue to build our
celebrated and successful Lee, who posted a picture and help develop a plan off the court may have led young players and figure
individuals in the history of of himself on Instagram in going forward. to his departure more than out a way to win,” Hor-
the NBA. His legacy in the a celebratory pose after Jackson was a Hall of the Knicks’ record on it. nacek said. “We have a lot
game of basketball is un- it was first reported by The Fame coach with the Chi- Jackson publicly talked of time before the regular
matched.” Vertical. cago Bulls and Los Ange- about moving without An- season and we will figure
But his work as a first-time The move comes less than les Lakers, delivering titles thony - angering the Na- that out.”
Jackson believed the
Golden Spike Knicks would compete for
a playoff berth last season
after he traded for Derrick

Continued from Page 17 Rose, signed Joakim Noah
and Courtney Lee and
Bolt mentioned a back were always packed - de- hired Hornacek. But after
problem that slowed him, spite bad weather during a solid start, they quickly
but downplayed its signifi- some of his previous ap- spiraled toward their famil-
cance. pearances. iar position at the bottom
“I’m going to see my doc- In an emotional farewell of the Eastern Conference
tor (in Germany) soon, I after the race, fans held and finished 31-51.
know he will fix every prob- up colored cards that Despite all that, Dolan said
lem,” he said. “All I need to formed a huge Jamaican during an ESPN Radio in-
do now is just to train hard flag in the stands, with a gi- terview in February that
and focus on getting my- ant message: “THANX UB.” he would allow Jackson to
self into great shape. I’m The Jamaican anthem fol- finish his contract, and the
not worried about that. It’s lowed, with Bolt singing Usain Bolt from Jamaica, competes with Yunier Perez sides picked up the mutual
just my back, it’s always an along. from Cuba, left to win the 100 meters men’s event at the two-year option on Jack-
issue. I didn’t get injured, “That was a surprise,” Bolt Golden Spike athletic meeting in Ostrava, Czech Republic, son’s contract.
Wednesday, June 28, 2017.
that’s a key thing.” said. “I didn’t expect any- Associated Press But the instability involv-
The eight-time Olympic thing like that. They always ing Anthony and Porzingis
champion is preparing for give me so much love here, Wayde van Niekerk of Olympic titles in both the threatened to damage
the world championships in I really appreciate that.” South Africa, who led 5,000 and 10,000 at the Rio the team’s ability to lure
London in August, his final The only other race he’s home the rarely-contested Games last year, plans to free agents and may have
major competition. scheduled before the 300 meters in a world’s best retire from track to move to spurred Dolan’s decision.
Bolt said he liked the Gold- worlds is the Diamond time of 30.81. road races after the worlds. Though he had been in-
en Spike because it was League event in Monaco Farah claimed victory in Farah held off a challenge tent on keeping Jackson,
one of the first professional on July 21. the 10,000 in what was like- from Kenyan Mathew the dysfunction within the
meets that invited him to He’s still undecided about ly one of his last races on Kimeli, surging past him with franchise showed no sign
run at the start of his career, other meets. the track. 200 meters to go to win in of ending even as Jack-
and he also appreciated Other winners on Wednes- The British distance spe- 27:12.09. Kimeli clocked son, 71, largely stayed out
the fact that the stands day were Mo Farah and cialist, who defended his 27:14.43. q of sight.q