Kerr defends Jackson era
Warriors coach Steve Kerr gave a thoughtful assessment of Phil Jackson’s failed Knicks presidential regime, saying the Zen Master was due bad luck after his record-setting “11 Rings” coaching career, when everything went right. Jackson was fired after June’s draft, when Knicks owner James Dolan viewed Jackson’s promoting the notion he was looking to deal Kristaps Porzingis if the price were right as the last straw. Kerr, whose defending champions practiced at St. John’s on Tuesday, told reporters Jackson has put the Knicks on “a good path” but “felt bad” at his ouster after three seasons of 17-65, 32-50 and 31-51 records. Kerr, who had a verbal agreement to become the Knicks’ coach before reneging in 2014, praised some of Jackson’s moves, including hiring Jeff Hornacek, who was slated to become Kerr’s top assistant with Golden State if Hornacek didn’t get the Knicks coaching job. “I felt bad for the way things ended,” Kerr said. “I think Phil did some good things here. Drafting [Kristaps] Porzingis and hiring Jeff Hornacek. I think [Frank] Ntilikina looks like a good player. It feels like they’re on a good path right now.”
Kerr, who has maintained a friendship with Jackson after playing under him and winning three titles in Chicago, admitted his former coach was in the right place at the right time in succeeding Doug Collins.
“It’s a hard league, man,” Kerr said. “Things really have to fall [in your favor], you have to do a good job. But you also have to get some luck. Phil knows that better than anybody. You can be really lucky and inherit Michael Jordan, and you can also be unlucky and things don’t go your way.
“It’s all part of it. We’re all going to have our moments in this league — ups and downs. Phil had so much success as a coach. I don’t know, maybe he was due for the down part of it.”
The Warriors stayed in town after beating the Nets on Sunday in Brooklyn before traveling to Oklahoma City on Wednesday, losing 108-91.
MSG Networks will stage special “Thankzingis” programming Thursday in honor of Kristaps Porzingis. The network will show six of Porzingis’ best games, starting at 11:30 a.m. … Defensive captain Joakim Noah has the flu and didn’t attend Wednesday’s 108-100 win over Toronto. Hornacek said Noah would have been inactive if healthy.