Phil Jackson’s tenure as president of the New York Knicks from 2014 to 2017 was a disastrous one. One of the lasting memories from it is his clashes with Carmelo Anthony and on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast, the 10-time All-Star shared what it was like when Jackson arrived.
“He was definitely on his Zen s***, though, lights out in the room, candles,” Anthony said. “… We didn’t even pay him no mind, though, like it was no disrespect to him. We just was like, ‘He is in his own world.'”
When Jackson started going behind everyone’s back, Carmelo stated they started losing respect for him.
“But when you started doing all the backdoor s*** and behind the scenes and you start finagling, then now you losing that respect,” Anthony continued. “That we respect you on, we stand on something with you, because of who you actually are and what you did and what you accomplished.”
(starts at 43:18 mark):
Anthony says only the Knicks players saw him for who really was. Previously, co-host The Kid Mero stated that Jackson had been brought in to change the culture in New York. The 39-year-old said he certainly did change it but for the worse. Safe to say there is no love lost between the two.
Carmelo Anthony And Phil Jackson
Jackson and Anthony’s partnership in New York got off to a positive start of sorts, as Carmelo was given a five-year, $124 million extension in 2014. It also included a no-trade clause, but it seemed like Jackson wasn’t too keen on giving Anthony that contract.
Still, Melo had his big deal, but the good times did not last for too long. With the Knicks failing to make the playoffs under Jackson’s leadership, he began chopping and changing the roster, eventually coming to the conclusion that Anthony had to go. The problem with that? Well, the no-trade clause.
Anthony was not going to waive it which meant it was time for Jackson to try to force him out, but he didn’t do it directly. Charley Rosen, a confidant of Jackson, wrote a column that stated that Carmelo had “outlived his usefulness in New York.”
While Rosen denied that Jackson had anything to do with it, everyone believed he did, which is where Anthony’s comments about him going behind people’s backs might be coming from. Jackson would then famously put out a cryptic post on social media about a leopard not changing its spots.
Bleacher's Ding almost rings the bell, but I learned you don't change the spot on a leopard with Michael Graham in my CBA daze.
— Phil Jackson (@PhilJackson11) February 7, 2017
Bleacher Report’s Kevin Ding had at the time written a column criticizing Anthony for not fulfilling the role of a Phil Jackson superstar, referring to Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. Jackson had previously called Carmelo a ball hog and it seemed clear he was indicating that it’s just who he will always be.
With none of this working, Jackson finally said in public after the 2016-17 season that Anthony should leave the Knicks.
“I think the direction with our team is that he’s a player that would be better off somewhere else and using his talent somewhere where he can win or chase that championship,” Jackson said. “Right now we need players that are really active, can play every single play, defensively and offensively. That’s really important for us.”
(starts at 0:38 mark):
That was the first time he had openly stated it, but before Jackson could pull off any sort of move, he and the Knicks mutually parted ways in 2017. There was speculation that it was because he had attempted to buy out Carmelo’s contract and was open to trading Kristaps Porzingis.
Whatever the case, Jackson was gone in June and Melo would soon follow. He had gotten to the point where he wanted out and in September, the Knicks traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their partnership was supposed to take the Knicks to the promised land but it ended with no playoff appearances and sheer disappointment.
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