Jackson interested _ as is Van Gundy in him

Mark Jackson, now that the Knicks no longer have a head coach, is interested in the job. Surprise, surprise.

Jeff Van Gundy, the former Knicks coach whose interest in returning Donnie Walsh said he planned to gauge, is simply interested in seeing Jackson get the job.

That's what the two said while broadcasting Saturday's Suns-Spurs playoff game for ABC alongside play-by-play man (and Knicks broadcaster) Mike Breen.

"Donnie Walsh is a guy I have a great relationship with and a lot of history with," Jackson said of the man who traded for him twice in Indiana after the Knicks originally drafted him. "You talk about the Knicks, one of the greatest franchises in all of sports. It is a job that's very intriguing.

"This is a one-horse race right now," Van Gundy said when Breen asked about his interest. "It's Mark Jackson, it's his time and he would do a tremendous job if given the opportunity anywhere, but particularly [as] a New York guy in New York. [He has] great ideas on basketball philosophy, great communications skills."

Van Gundy also laughed off a Breen question about a "Hillary-Obama" ticket in which one would serve as head coach and the other as an assistant.

Walsh, though, will certainly talk to others about the job, including Herb Williams and possibly the likes of Rick Carlisle, Scott Skiles and possibly Boston assistant (and former JVG assistant) Tom Thibodeau, if he can talk during the Celtics' playoff run.

That's called doing due diligence _ which the Knicks didn't exactly do when they hired Walsh and talked to virtually no one else.

So call Jackson the lead candidate if you want, but it's unlikely this thing will go down overnight.

Plenty more on this and Walsh's experience with inexperienced coaches (Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas in Indiana) in Sunday's Record.

And, please let us know what you think about Jackson and the coaching search in general.

Comments

[Freeman24]

I just have a great feeling about Jackson. He was the quintessential QB of the team when he played PG for the Knicks and more of the same when we played against him in Indiana. If we are truly going to try to be "competitive" this year, more than a technician we need someone who will "reach" most of this year's cast (Donnie can't turnover the whole team in one offseason). We'll hire plenty of experience on the bench. i wouldn't be surprised if Walsh locked him up next week. Think about it from a business perspective, Walsh wanted to hire Jackson once already but couldn't cause Bird was GM, why wouldn't he now when he is even more perfect a hire, in NY where Jackson will be totally supported because of his past.

[ScottD]

Mark Jackson works for me, but, I really hope that he gets some top assistants, and none of the current, including Herb Williams who is a nice guy, but i'm not sure just how effective he is.
I really expect Ewing to be here if Jackson gets the position.
That would be great.
Watching all this unfold is like watching somebody who you care deeply about recovering from a disease, with a fantastic chance to be 100% healthy again.
It's really refreshing.