The New York Knicks barely missed the playoffs. In response, they dismissed their head coach.
Does this mark the beginning of the Phil Jackson era?
Mike Woodson finds himself unemployed after posting a 116-89 over his not-quite three seasons in New York. The Knicks placed ninth in the East with a 37-45 record. But had Woodson made the playoffs with a 45-37 record, he’d still likely be out of a job today. The decision to hire Phil Jackson to run the team earlier this season meant the inevitable end to Woodson’s tenure. Jackson aims to bring in his own coach and new players to add a championship ring in New York as an executive to the two he already owns as a Knicks player.
“The coaches and players on this team had an extremely difficult 2013-14 season,” Phil Jackson said in a statement, “and blame should not be put on one individual. But the time has come for change throughout the franchise as we start the journey to assess and build this team for next season and beyond.”