Phil Jackson may need to adjust his wish list for the next Knicks coach again. Denver Nuggets president Josh Kroenke told Yahoo that he fully expects head coach Brian Shaw—who has been linked to the Knicks’ vacancy due to his ties to Jackson—to return to the team next season:
After weeks of speculation over New York Knicks president Phil Jackson’s intrigue with luring Denver Nuggets coach Brian Shaw to Madison Square Garden, Denver president Josh Kroenke made it clear to Yahoo Sports on Thursday night: It isn’t happening.
“Brian has said publicly – and privately to us – that his desire is to be here, and we feel strongly about him as our coach,” Kroenke told Yahoo Sports. “I don’t foresee a scenario or circumstance where he’s going to be anywhere but with the Nuggets next season.”
The Knicks haven’t reached out for permission to speak with Shaw, who went 36-46 in an injury-plagued first season as coach of the Nuggets. Denver is expected to return several key players from serious injuries next year, including Danilo Gallinari, JaVale McGee and Nate Robinson.
The elimination of Shaw, a long-time Jackson assistant and player with the Los Angeles Lakers, keeps Oklahoma City guard Derek Fisher as the frontrunner for the Knicks job, league sources said. Jackson is waiting for the Thunder’s season to end to discuss the opening with Fisher, who has a strong interest in becoming a head coach next season, sources tell Yahoo Sports. Jackson wants a coach whom he can mold and who will run his famed triangle offense.
