The New York Knicks press conference of the has been announced for Tuesday, March 18 at Madison Square Garden. The purpose is to announce an important event for the franchise, officially without specifying anything. However, in recent days the news was leaked and is unofficially confirmed that Phil Jackson (photo ©Keith Allison) will be the new president of the Knicks’ front office.

Phil Jackson has certainly no need for introduction, being known even outside the world of basketball. Known as the “Zen Master” or “coach Zen” for his philosophical approach to his job as a coach and his love for the novel “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”, he won 2 NBA titles as a player with the New York Knicks and 11 NBA titles as a coach, 6 with the Chicago Bulls and 5 with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Recently the rumors of negotiations between Phil Jackson and the Knicks were really strong, though someone thought that the New York franchise might want him as its coach. Coach Zen is 68 years old and two years ago among other things he asked the Lakers to be able to skip some away games when there was the possibility of him returning again as the coach of Kobe Bryant’s team. Today the Lakers regret it but the problems of the Los Angeles franchise are deeper.

The Lakers were seen as the only possible alternative for Phil Jackson to the Knicks, also for his personal relationship with Jeanie Buss, one of the owners of the Los Angeles franchise. Eventually, however, came the deal with the Knicks, it seems for $12 million per season and a real decision-making power, which until now had remained in the hands of owner James Dolan. What can the Zen Master do for the New York franchise?

The situation of the New York Knicks is complicated for various reasons. The franchise has heavy contracts with players who aren’t bringing it to the playoffs and this summer Carmelo Anthony could become a free agent. Phil Jackson’s charisma could certainly help to convince Melo to renew his contract.

The real results will probably only be see in a year when the contracts of Amar’e Soudemire, Andrea Bargnani and Tyson Chandler will expire and many high-level players will be free agents. Phil Jackson has no experience as a manager but he knows perfectly basketball and is highly respected in the NBA thus be able to get a little patience even in New York, where everyone is very demanding. Surely this new challenge will be very stimulating for him.

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