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New York Knicks: Five Reasons To Like The Jeff Hornacek Hiring

By Maxwell Ogden

Dec 31, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek reacts to a call against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek reacts to a call against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 21, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek (center) reacts alongside guard Eric Bledsoe (2) and guard Goran Dragic (1) in the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Blazers 118-113. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek (center) reacts alongside guard Eric Bledsoe (2) and guard Goran Dragic (1) in the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Blazers 118-113. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Immediate Turnaround

Many skeptical New York Knicks fans and writers have pointed to Jeff Hornacek’s career winning percentage of .474. The concern over that record is that, even if Hornacek does eventually lead New York back to the playoffs, he’ll need time before he does so.

Perhaps not.

In 2012-13, the Phoenix Suns finished at a league-worst 25-57. Phoenix made some decent moves during the summer of 2013, including the hiring of coach Hornacek, but the general expectation was that it’d be right back in the draft lottery.

Golden State Warriors head coach and defending NBA champion Steve Kerr spoke at length about how Hornacek led the Suns to an improbable and immediate turnaround, per Marc Berman of The New York Post.

"“I thought he did a phenomenal job in Phoenix. That first year he got them to within a game of the playoffs in a loaded conference in a year when they were supposed to be a high lottery team.” “This guy has a great knowledge of the game, great feel, and he’s a really top-notch human being. I thought he was a great choice [for the Knicks].”"

Kerr is about as strong of a cosign as you can get in the NBA.

For those unfamiliar, Hornacek led Phoenix to a record of 48-34 during his first season at the helm. That followed the 25-57 record posted the previous yea, which made for a 23-win improvement.

That’s even more impressive when one considers the fact that Eric Bledsoe missed 39 games during that 48-win campaign—a stretch during which Phoenix managed to play above-.500 ball.

For perspective, Hornacek’s full-time starters were Goran Dragic, P.J. Tucker, Channing Frye, and Miles Plumlee. Gerald Green spent time at the 2 when Bledsoe was out, which, with all due respect, created your quintessential makeshift rotation.

Hornacek led that makeshift rotation to 48 wins in the Western Conference—before the front office imploded, compiled terrible decisions, and had the coach take the bullet, of course.

Next: No. 3

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