Knicks: NBA Players Explain Phil Jackson’s Recruitment Process
NBA players explain how they were recruited by New York Knicks team president Phil Jackson.
The New York Knicks are relying upon Phil Jackson to do what he’s done at every stage of his NBA career thus far: win. He was a player for the Knicks’ only two championship teams in 1970 and 1973, coached the Chicago Bulls to six titles between 1991 and 1998, and helped the Los Angeles Lakers hang five banners between 2000 and 2010 in the same capacity.
The question is, how will he restore New York to greatness?
In an article that you need to read in full, Ian Begley of ESPN spoke with the Knicks’ top 2015 free agent targets and found out how The Zen Master recruited them. As one might expect, it’s wasn’t the most orthodox of experiences for any of the targeted players.
That includes Robin Lopez, whom the Knicks signed to a four-year contract worth roughly $54 million.
"“For the longest time, nothing really basketball-related was discussed,” Lopez said of his 2015 dinner meeting with Jackson and the Knicks in Los Angeles. “We talked a little bit about culture. He discussed some books he’d been reading, I talked about some movies I’d watched. … It was nice and it was a little intimidating, because it was Phil Jackson.”“He knew I had an idea of what to expect because I played against the Lakers when I was in Phoenix,” Lopez said. “I think this was just to kind of give me a refresher.”"
Whether or not angry Knicks fans believe it, Jackson’s name and accolades still hold weight in the NBA.
Jackson was a key role player on the only two Knicks teams to win NBA championships. He went on to win 11 titles as a head coach, managing the seemingly untamable egos of players such as Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman.
For perspective, those five legends have a combined three titles without Jackson—rings that were won with fellow all-time coaches Chuck Daly and Pat Riley.
The notion that anyone could’ve won with the teams Jackson coached is silly and unfounded. Players seem to be more attracted to the idea of playing for a team Jackson is putting together than fearful of it, and that includes those who chose to sign elsewhere.
DeAndre Jordan, who agreed to terms with the Dallas Mavericks, only to controversially spurn them for the Los Angeles Clippers, called his meeting with the Knicks one of the best he had during his period of free agency.
"“They showed me some things, how I’d fit in in that offense and what I would do to excel as a player and what we’d do to excel as a team,” he said. “The message [from Jackson] was just for me to be an all-around player and improve my game as much as I could.”“Phil was great; it was one of my best meetings,” he said. “He’s such a smart man, such a deep thinker, that you want to be a part of that. He’s won, he proven it. … He made it tough to say no.”"
Jordan may not have signed with the Knicks, but the fact that he was impressed is a positive sign.
New York is a daunting city to play in, with the rabid fans and unforgiving media holding players to often unrealistic standards. That makes Jackson’s presence all the more important for the Knicks.
Greg Monroe, who shockingly chose the Milwaukee Bucks over the Knicks, broke down how Jackson attempts to relate to the person he’s speaking to on a level that’s deeper than basketball.
"“He was real laid back,” Monroe said of Jackson during his Washington, D.C., meeting with the Knicks. “He was just talking to me as a person, mostly. It was pretty normal. He was just trying to get to know me a little bit. He told me some stuff about him, how he got to this point.”"
As was the case when he was a coach, Jackson cares more about appealing to the man than he does to the player.
That approach was incomparably successful when he was coaching. He won 11 NBA championships as the stabilizing force for teams that included the egos of players such as Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and Shaquille O’Neal.
For as glorious as those 11 championships are and were, we must acknowledge the reality of this situation: 2015 was Jackson’s first real period of free agency as an executive.
In 2014, the Knicks had virtually no cap space and were focused more on clearing up money for 2015 than building an immediate contender. Thus, it’s fair to state that 2015 was the first real look at Jackson’s long-term vision.
Virtual tryout deals for players such as Lance Thomas and Derrick Williams, as well as cost-effective investments in Arron Afflalo and Lopez, have proven to be quality compensation after New York missed out on its top targets.
The question is, can Jackson’s approach to free agency reel in the big fish in 2016?
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The likes of Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard, Al Horford, and Mike Conley are waiting in the wings.