National Basketball Association

Knicks Rumors: 5 Reasons Phil Jackson Won't Leave New York In 2017

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:52 p.m. ET

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There’s a working theory that Phil Jackson will opt out of his current contract with the New York Knicks. Here are five reasons to believe he won’t.

Nov 9, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks general manager Phil Jackson watches during the third quarter between the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Knicks are approaching an offseason that could alter the trajectory of the organization for years to come. Team president Phil Jackson has time remaining on his contract, but there’s an opt-out clause in place for the summer of 2017.

Due to the fact that Jackson has the power to decide whether or not he’ll remain with the Knicks beyond 2017, many have hypothesized that he will not.

Jackson told Jackie MacMullan of ESPN’s TrueHoop Network that he hasn’t entertained the possibility of opting out. Despite that personal confirmation of his intention to stay, rumors have persisted that he will leave.

Mark Heisler of The Orange County Register reported in late November that the odds of Jackson returning to the Los Angeles Lakers are, “50-50.”

Jackson and his fiance, Lakers co-owner Jeanie Buss, both deny it’s happening. That’s absolutely true … as far as it goes … until Phil’s opt-out on July 1, 2017, with insiders close to both saying he could still wind up with the Lakers.

I’d make the odds 50-50 since it doesn’t take as much as it once did to please Knicks fans.

Despite making it clear that he hasn’t considered leaving, rumors still exist of Jackson’s desire to depart.

Jackson’s opt-out clause will become available to him on July 1, 2017. Lakers co-owner Jeanie Buss, who also happens to be Jackson’s fiancé, told 89.3 KPCC Radio that her brother, Jim Buss, would step down if the Lakers weren’t contending within a three-year window.

Buss made that claim in 2015 and stated that 2014-15 was the first of those three years, thus making 2016-17 his last chance to build a contender.

The Lakers are currently 10-17, but remain just 2.5 games back of the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak have built a promising young roster, but Lakers fans aren’t accustomed to long-term rebuilds.

Thus, the desire to bring the man who helped the Lakers win five titles to Los Angeles.

Tantalizing a possibility as it would be for Jackson to team up with his fiancé and lead the Lakers, here are five reasons to believe Jackson will remain with the Knicks beyond 2017.

Dec 9, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) shakes hands with head coach Jeff Hornacek during the second half at Golden 1 Center. The Knicks defeated the Kings 103-100. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

5. Kristaps Porzingis

If you let revisionist historians tell it, Phil Jackson lucked into selecting Kristaps Porzingis at No. 4 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. Porzingis fell into Jackson’s lap and everyone knew that the only option was to take him.

If you evaluate the actual events of what transpired, however, you’ll find that no one wanted Jackson to draft Porzingis.

Porzingis’ upside was tantalizing, but the masses were calling for Jackson to take Emmanuel Mudiay or Justise Winslow. The hype grew stronger when Winslow attended a New York Yankees game with Carmelo Anthony.

Despite the vast opposition—including crying and booing Knicks fans on draft night—Jackson entrusted the future of the organization to Porzingis.

By remaining in New York, Jackson would have the opportunity to see Porzingis’ development through. That alone is reason to believe he’ll want to remain with the Knicks, especially in the midst of his rise to stardom.

Porzingis is only on the Knicks because of Jackson. It’s hard to imagine Jackson will leave while Porzingis is in the early stages of his development.

Dec 6, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (25) drives the ball around Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

4. Building Sustainability

As previously alluded to, the New York Knicks have a young phenom who’s in the process of achieving stardom. Though Kristaps Porzingis projects to stabilize the organization for years to come, one player won’t be enough.

Phil Jackson wants to build a sustainable contender before he leaves New York and there’s still significant work to be done.

The Knicks have Carmelo Anthony, Willy Hernangomez, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Courtney Lee, Joakim Noah, Kyle O’Quinn, Porzingis, and Lance Thomas signed to long-term contracts. That ensures some measure of New York’s future.

Having said that, the list of New York’s pending free agents includes point guards Brandon Jennings and Derrick Rose, and backup shooting guard Justin Holiday.

If Jackson were to leave before free agency, he’d be leaving the Knicks without a backcourt. That’s nothing short of unforgivable, especially in a modern era where guard play can spell the difference between success and failure.

Simply put: it’s hard to believe that Jackson would abandon his quest to build a sustainable contender before he’s succeeded in doing so.

Nov 22, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Brandon Jennings (3) celebrates with forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

3. It’s Finally His Team

Phil Jackson’s first three years as a team president of the New York Knicks were the equivalent to a college football head coach first taking over. He’s brought in a number of his own players, but a significant number of the key players were the product of the previous regime.

The 2016-17 Knicks are finally Jackson’s team—and it’s no coincidence that they’re winning games and competing for a playoff spot.

It was the previous regime that traded the Knicks’ 2014 and 2016 first-round draft picks. That alone has handcuffed New York to a vision that required unfavorable financial maneuvering and a number of trades that intended to nothing more than blow up the roster.

It took two full seasons and three drafts for Jackson to move on from the previous regime, but he’s finally responsible for the full roster.

Jackson drafted Kristaps Porzingis and signed or re-signed every player who’s currently on the roster. Though the hiring of Derek Fisher didn’t work out, his second head coach, Jeff Hornacek, is already turning the Knicks around.

With full control over the Knicks and responsibility to be taken for every move he’s made, Jackson no longer has to overcome the mistakes of old.

Dec 16, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks general manager Phil Jackson looks on during a stop in play against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

2. Legacy

There’s a very easy case to make that Phil Jackson is the greatest coach in NBA history. He’s won 11 NBA championships—the most by any coach—and has the most postseason wins and the highest regular season and postseason win percentage of all-time.

Jackson’s legacy is safe as a legendary head coach, but one can’t help but ask the question: why would he want to end a chapter of his NBA career with a losing reputation?

The Knicks amassed a record of 49-115 during Jackson’s first two seasons as team president. Even if the Knicks manage to reach the playoffs in 2016-17, Jackson would have two losing seasons and one winning year on his resume.

Thus, while legacy may not be the best word of choice for what Jackson has riding on his Knicks tenure, it’s hard to believe the NBA’s greatest winner would want one of his stops to be deemed unsuccessful.

Jackson is as brilliant a basketball mind as the sport has ever seen, and one of the reasons for his success is his pride. He pushes individuals to be the best they can be, and that starts with pushing himself.

Jackson has what any great player, coach, or executive has: pride. It’s hard to imagine he’d leave New York without fulfilling his goals.

Mar 27, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Vocal group the Four Tops with former NBA player Earl Monroe (purple tie) and New York Knicks president Phil Jackson and Walt Frazier and former NBA player Dick Barnett (right) acknowledge Walt Frazier for his 70th birthday during the game between the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

1. He Played For The Knicks

The notion that Phil Jackson joined the New York Knicks for the money is hard to agree with. Doing so would ignore the reality that Phil Jackson played for the only two championship teams in Knicks history: 1970 and 1973.

If anyone has a vested interest in the Knicks returning to glory, it’s an individual who has first-hand knowledge of what glory in New York looks and feels like.

Jackson missed the 1969-70 season after undergoing spinal fusion surgery, but his perseverance helped define Knicks basketball. He continued to take charges, crash the boards, defend at a high level, and run the floor, ultimately becoming a glue guy for the NBA champions in 1973.

Jackson played for the Knicks from 1967 to 1978, going from super sub to starter and maintaining a steady reputation as a fan favorite.

Nearly 50 seasons removed from his debut with the Knicks, Jackson has a chance to restore the championship glory. By leading New York to its first title since 1973, he’d do right by the fan base he spent 11 years playing in front of.

Moreover, he’d solidify his place as the greatest mind and winner in NBA history by adding a 14th championship to his resume—two as a player, 11 as a coach, and one as an executive.

Jackson’s legacy as a coach is safe and secure, but he finally has his own franchise player, his own team, and his own vision. Why leave at a time like this?