New York Knicks: Phil Jackson Explains Jeff Hornacek Hiring

Fresh off of the official announcement, New York Knicks team president Phil Jackson explained his decision to hire Jeff Hornacek as head coach.

After two weeks of eager anticipation, the New York Knicks have officially announced the hiring of Jeff Hornacek as head coach. Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reports that Hornacek and the Knicks agreed to a three-year deal, thus locking him in through the 2018-19 season.

While many are excited about the move, a question lingers in the basketball community: why did team president Phil Jackson choose Hornacek?

Jackson was expected to select a candidate from within his tree of Triangle Offense disciples. Derek Fisher, who played for Jackson, was his first hire at head coach, and Kurt Rambis, who coached alongside Jackson, filled the interim role.

According to Ian Begley of ESPN New York, Jackson cited Horancek’s basketball acumen as the reason for hiring Hornacek.

"“Jeff has a tremendous basketball acumen and possesses strong leadership skills,” Jackson said in a statement. “During his career as both a player and coach, he has demonstrated the ability to elevate the game.”"

A vast majority of the NBA community would agree with Jackson on Hornacek’s basketball IQ.

It’s worth noting that Hornacek’s three-year deal matches the remaining number of years on Jackson’s contract. In other words, Jackson didn’t just hire Hornacek to be a random name and face.

In The Zen Master’s eyes, Hornacek is the coach who will lead the Knicks to the execution of his vision.

Hornacek inherits a team with an all-time scorer in Carmelo Anthony, and a tantalizing young power forward in Kristaps Porzingis. He also has one of the better two-way centers in the NBA in Robin Lopez, and two promising young point guards in Jerian Grant and Tony Wroten.

All things considered, that’s more than Hornacek had when he took over the 25-57 Phoenix Suns in 2013.

Thus, it’s vital to note that Hornacek helped that 25-57 team go 48-34 during his first season at the helm. Phoenix acquired Eric Bledsoe the previous offseason, but he missed 39 games, and the Suns managed to post a winning record without him.

Per Begley, Hornacek wants nothing more than to help the Knicks in the same way he did the Suns in 2013-14.

"“I am extremely excited and honored to be the next coach of such an historic franchise,” said Hornacek, who will be introduced at a press conference at the team facility on Friday afternoon. “I look forward to working with Phil — a coach and teacher of the game I have admired for many years — and collaborating with him and our staff to take this team to the level that Knicks fans expect.”"

Hornacek certainly knows what to say.

Begley went 101-112 in two-and-a-half seasons as head coach of the Suns. That includes a 48-win season in 2013-14, and a 39-win campaign during a 2014-15 season that was marred by Phoenix trading two of its Top 3 players in Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas.

The question is, can Hornacek’s basketball acumen lead the Knicks back to the postseason in 2016-17?

must read: What are the fundamental elements of Jeff Hornacek's offense?

That answer will come in the very near future.