Kobe Bryant says Knicks fans need to 'trust' Phil Jackson
For the third straight season, the New York Knicks will not make the playoffs. When it comes to this franchise, this has become a common theme for most of the 2000s. Since 2004, they have made the postseason four times. This is a far cry from the Knicks' glory days, when they were a perennial playoff team from 1988 until 2001. But despite their recent spate of losing, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant has faith that the Knicks will turn it around, mainly because of Phil Jackson.
Jackson was quite successful as a head coach, winning 11 championships with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. Having been part of the championship experience with Jackson, Bryant believes that his former coach is a basketball genius and, although it may take some time, will make the Knicks a great team.
From Sports Illustrated's Ben Golliver:
“What he does now is understanding personnel, picking the right personnel, but that's no different than what he did as a coach,” Bryant said Sunday. “As a coach he really broke down the players, understood the players. That's the same thing he does as a GM.
“The people of New York just need to trust the fact that he knows more about the game than any of them put together. ... In my opinion, he's the greatest coach in any profession. Ever.”
...
“We don't win any of those championships without him,” Bryant said of Jackson. “I don't think Chicago wins any of those championships without him. I hear the argument, the silliest thing I've ever heard, that Phil ‘won because he had great players.' No s---, Sherlock. Are you going to win with a bunch of scrubs? You know what I'm saying?”
While Bryant didn't always see eye-to-eye with Jackson, he has always had high praise for his former coach. Mainly because of Jackson, Bryant experienced a lot of success quickly and then learned from his coach how to become a truly elite player and one of the best to ever play.
Bryant is of course simply telling Knicks fans to be patient. This may be easier said than done, but Jackson has been in his role as the Knicks' president for almost two years now and has already made some smart moves like drafting Kristaps Porzingis. Last summer was also a strong offseason by the Knicks. Jackson was able to add quality veteran players like Robin Lopez and Arron Afflalo that has made them a better overall team.
The Knicks have not been a playoff team since Jackson took over, but Bryant is right. It will take some time but he has New York heading in the right direction.
