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New York Knicks: Pros, Cons Of Phil Jackson’s Tenure As Team President

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 10, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks general manager Phil Jackson (right) watches during the first quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks general manager Phil Jackson (right) watches during the first quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty draft picks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty draft picks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /

Context: Constant Turnover

Easily the most underreported fact about Phil Jackson’s tenure as team president is the sucker punch he was thrown on Day 1. Jackson entered this situation with high expectations, but he also signed a five-year deal—and it likely included some foresight.

In three seasons as team president of the New York Knicks, Jackson has inherited just one first-round draft pick—and please process that.

In 2014, Jackson’s first offseason as team president, the Knicks were without a first-round draft pick. That was somewhat easy to justify due to the fact that the pick was dealt away as a part of the Carmelo Anthony trade.

In 2016, however, Jackson was without a first-round draft pick for the second time in three years—and, just like the first time, it wasn’t his fault.

For those who are yearning for the regimes of old, note that it was the previous front office that traded a first-round draft pick for Andrea Bargnani. Not only did Bargnani struggle with the Knicks, but he isn’t even in the NBA anymore.

Thus, while Jackson has gone through two head coaches and a number of players, he’s also been without two of the first-round draft picks that could have helped him create a core.

Must Read: Five reasons for optimism following the 2016-17 season

This article isn’t speaking in favor of or against Phil Jackson, but it is attempting to point out one critical truth: it hasn’t all been bad for the New York Knicks.

The future is still brighter than it’s been in quite some time.

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