Knicks contact JVG & Jackson
OThe Knicks have contacted the representatives of both Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson, the Daily News has learned.
According to a source close to the Knicks search, Van Gundy and Jackson join a growing list of head coaching candidates that the Knicks have officially reached out to. That list includes former Memphis Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale, who revealed Friday that he will interview with the Knicks next week.
Jerry Stackhouse, the coach of Toronto’s G-League affiliate, has also been contacted and could have an interview date confirmed by Monday.
It is not known if Mills or general manager Scott Perry has spoken to Villanova head coach Jay Wright, who was in Italy on Saturday and had an audience with the Pope. Former Cavs head coach David Blatt is also considered a candidate but it is unclear if the Knicks have spoken to Blatt, who attended Princeton and was a teammate of Knicks President Steve Mills.
It is not believed that the Knicks have set up interviews with either Van Gundy or Jackson, who were in Oakland on Saturday working the Warriors-Spurs playoff game for ABC.
Both Fizdale and Stackhouse have drawn interest from several teams. Fizdale is said to be a candidate in Phoenix while Stackhouse could interview with both Charlotte and Orlando.
Some league officials believe that Fizdale may be the early favorite since the Knicks, according to two independent sources, reached out to Fizdale more than two weeks ago. Former Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek wasn’t fired until last Thursday.
That the Knicks would entertain the idea of talking to Van Gundy is a major step in what was once considered a frayed relationship between the former Knicks coach and the organization that he abruptly left in 2001.
Van Gundy, however, has previously worked with Mills and more importantly over the years Garden Chairman James Dolan has been cordial with Van Gundy, who led the franchise to its last NBA Finals appearance in 1999.
Whether Van Gundy could resurface with the Knicks the same way another ESPN broadcaster, Jon Gruden, returned to the Oakland Raiders is unclear. A majority of Knick fans would certainly celebrate the move.
Van Gundy, who coached Hall of Fame centers Patrick Ewing and Yao Ming, could be an important asset for Kristaps Porzingis.
Van Gundy returned to coaching last summer when he was appointed head coach of the U.S. national team for World Cup qualifying. His roster of mostly G-League players is undefeated.
Jackson, the onetime Knicks point guard and former Warriors coach, is also popular among Knick fans. He was regarded as the leading candidate to become Knicks coach 10 years ago before then team President Donnie Walsh hired Mike D’Antoni.
Mills recently said he spoke with Warriors GM Bob Myers about what they look for in a coach. Myers was once both Jackson’s agent as well as his boss so it’s likely the two discussed Jackson’s job performance.
The Warriors have won two titles under Steve Kerr, but Jackson was credited for taking a lottery team with young players and transforming it into a playoff team.
Jackson and Van Gundy could address their status on Sunday since they are both working Sunday’s Game 1 between the Cavs and Pacers in Cleveland.