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New York Knicks: Phil Jackson Letting Jeff Hornacek Coach

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Many feared that New York Knicks team president Phil Jackson would hire a puppet as head coach. Instead, he’s granted Jeff Hornacek creative freedom.

Phil Jackson wasn’t supposed to hire Jeff Hornacek as head coach. If you listened to the pessimistic media members and fans, Jackson was going to remove the interim tag and promote Kurt Rambis to full-time status as head coach of the New York Knicks.

When Jackson hired Hornacek, his critics were so shocked that they claimed James Dolan—the owner whom they’ve spent the past 15 years relentlessly criticizing—saved the Knicks.

In the aftermath of the hiring, another theory emerged. Though Hornacek was named head coach, Knicks media members and fans hypothesized that Jackson would pull the strings on every coaching decision.

Per Frank Isola of The New York Daily News, Jackson has let Hornacek run the offense with creative freedom.

That’s a significant change in tune from the stories that emerged about Derek Fisher’s tenure as head coach.

Jackson wants nothing more than for the Knicks to be a winner again. Though he’s remembered for his time as head coach of the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, Jackson started his career in New York.

Jackson was drafted by the New York Knicks at No. 17 overall in the 1967 NBA Draft, and he played for the team until 1978.

Jackson was on the roster for the only two championship runs in franchise history. He missed the 1969-70 season with a spinal injury, but was one of the Knicks’ most valuable role players in 1972-73.

Thus, if anyone has a vested interest in New York winning again, it’s the man who helped them do so.

As for Hornacek, he’s been dangerously close to success throughout his career. As a player, he made a pair of NBA Finals appearances with the Utah Jazz and two Conference Finals appearances with the Phoenix Suns.

As a coach, Hornacek missed the playoffs despite leading the Suns to 48 wins in 2013-14.

Hornacek has always had what it takes to be a winner. Jackson is merely offering small pieces of advice to help him complete the puzzle.

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