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New York Knicks: Avery Johnson endorses Jerry Stackhouse

By Maxwell Ogden

MISSISSAUGA, CANADA - APRIL 27: Jerry Stackhouse head coach of the Raptors 905 prepares for Game Three of the D-League Finals against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers at the Hershey Centre on April 27, 2017 in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)
MISSISSAUGA, CANADA - APRIL 27: Jerry Stackhouse head coach of the Raptors 905 prepares for Game Three of the D-League Finals against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers at the Hershey Centre on April 27, 2017 in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The New York Knicks are reportedly interested in hiring Jerry Stackhouse as the next head coach. NBA champion Avery Johnson offered a ringing endorsement.

The New York Knicks have reportedly scheduled meetings with five candidates for the vacancy at head coach. The individuals who are receiving the opportunity to earn the job are David Blatt, David Fizdale, Mark Jackson, Jerry Stackhouse, and Mike Woodson.

As the Knicks weigh their options, a number of respected coaches are offering endorsements for the candidates at large.

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra recently heaped praise upon Fizdale for his basketball IQ, ability to develop relationships, and overall leadership ability. It was a significant cosign from one of the best coaches in the NBA.

According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, former NBA Coach of the Year Avery Johnson offered a ringing endorsement of his own for Stackhouse.

"“You’ve seen his impact with the style of his team — he has very good communications skills with his players, definitely has a presence about him,’’ Johnson said. “The X’s and O’s, that’s easy for him. He understands the game. His team is prepared, good spacing and he’s a more balanced coach. Don’t want to box him as a defensive or offensive coach.”"

Stackhouse is one of the fastest rising names in the coaching community, which makes Johnson’s words those of justifiability and significance.

Johnson certainly knows what it takes to win in the NBA, as he won a championship as a player and led the Dallas Mavericks to the 2006 NBA Finals as a head coach. He has two 60-win seasons and a 50-win campaign on his coaching resume, as well as four total postseason appearances.

Johnson also took the Alabama Crimson Tide to the 2018 NCAA Tournament, marking the program’s first appearance since 2012.

Having noted Johnson’s qualifications in the coaching realm, it’s fair for even the harshest of skeptics to accept his praise as deserving.

Stackhouse has spent the past two seasons coaching the Toronto Raptors’ G League affiliate: Raptors 905. He led the 2016-17 team to the first championship in franchise history and took the 2017-18 squad back to the NBA G League Finals.

Raptors 905 ranked No. 1 in defensive rating in both of those seasons, and finished 2017-18 ranked No. 2 in the NBA G League in both offensive and defensive rebound percentage, and No. 7 in assist ratio.

In a league that plays at a torrid pace, Stackhouse managed to go against the grain and win with a team that slowed it down and emphasized defense.

Must Read: Outside the box candidates to be the next head coach

In other words: Jerry Stackhouse won in a New York Knicks way.

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