NEW YORK - Phil Jackson was officially named president of the New York Knicks on Tuesday in a move the National Basketball Association team hopes will help restore a winning culture to the franchise.
Knicks owner James Dolan announced the appointment during a news conference at Madison Square Garden following a week of speculation that Jackson, who won a record 11 NBA titles as a head coach and two as a player, would take over in charge of the team's basketball operations.
"There is only one Phil Jackson, and he is synonymous with winning basketball teams," Dolan said of the former University of North Dakota star who grew up in Williston, N.D.
"His history of success in the NBA is unrivaled, and he is the ideal executive to lead our team and develop short and long term plans that build a successful franchise and result in an NBA championship."
Jackson, 68, began his playing career in New York, winning two titles with the Knicks in the early 1970s, before turning to coaching.
ADVERTISEMENT
He led the Chicago Bulls to six championships in the 1990s then won five more with the Los Angeles Lakers after the turn of the century before retiring from coaching in 2011.
"I started my career as a Knick, and know what it feels like to win in this great city," Jackson said.
"I take the task of helping to deliver a winning team to our fans seriously, and look forward to combining my vision of the game with Steve Mills' abilities as a general manager."
The Knicks have not won a championship since 1973, when Jackson was still in his playing days, and are struggling to make the playoffs this season.
With 15 games left in the regular season, the Knicks are ninth in the Eastern Conference with a 27-40 record, four games back of the eighth and final playoff spot.
Dolan said he hoped Jackson's return to the team would signal a change in their fortunes.
"In addition to the tremendous respect I have for Phil regarding basketball, over the last several months, I have had the opportunity to get to know him personally, and have developed a high regard for his character and passion as an individual," Dolan said.
"I am confident that he and Steve Mills have the right combination of complementary skills to make this franchise successful."
