Knicks · Report: Phil Interviewed Luke Walton (page 1)

Warriors assistant coach Luke Walton already has interviewed with at least two teams, including the Knicks and Nets, according to an NBA source.

Walton had pulled himself out of consideration from the Nets, who announced the hiring of Kenny Atkinson on Sunday.

According to a source, Knicks president Phil Jackson already has spoken with Walton, though it’s unclear if it was just a phone interview. The Post reported in Saturday’s editions the Warriors would give Walton permission to talk to other teams as long as it doesn’t interfere with the playoff push.

As interim coach filling in for Steve Kerr, Walton guided the Warriors to a 39-4 start to the season.

The league source said Walton could very easily stay with the Warriors another season, and he isn’t close to deciding on what to do.

“It’s going to be a long, deliberate process,’’ the source said.

Jackson said Thursday he would conduct a narrow coaching search confined to people he knows. Walton, who played in Los Angeles from 2003-11, is considered one of Jackson’s favorite players with the Lakers.

Toward the end of Walton’s playing career, then-Lakers coach Jackson began inviting Walton to coaches meetings to lift his spirits.

“I was really into what they were doing, and I figured if I can’t play. I’d like to do this coaching thing,” Walton said earlier this season.

Walton is considered a long shot to want the Knicks job as he’s a West Coast product. Walton and Kerr do not run the triangle offense in Golden State – just principles.

Walton already turned down a Jackson offer to be Derek Fisher’s assistant two years ago. If the Lakers job opens up, Walton figures to be a top candidate there.

NBA legend Bill Walton, father of Luke, recently said his son should stick with the record-breaking defending champions, who just achieved a 73-win season.

“First of all, Luke doesn’t listen to me. He makes his own decisions,” Bill Walton said. “I always tell him the same thing: ‘Luke, it doesn’t ever get any better than what you have right now.’ I was part of three of the greatest teams ever — UCLA, Portland, the Celtics. I’ve been at the other end of the spectrum, too. There are opposite ends of every teeter-totter, so I tell him, ‘Money can’t buy what you have.’ Head coaching jobs, they’re open for a reason. Those reasons don’t exist in Golden State.”

Interim coach Kurt Rambis is still in the mix for the Knicks’ permanent job.

yellowboy90 wrote:Blah blah blah cut to "let's officially welcome Kurt Ram is as Head Coach"

yeah ... seems like phil made up to keep his stupid friend barring an all out mutiny.

Also, phil knows that rambis will be a triangle puppet and will do EXACTLY what phil says to do (which sucks) and that Walton may actually have an opinion especially since he is on the staff of one of the most potent offenses in history.

yellowboy90 wrote:Blah blah blah cut to "let's officially welcome Kurt Ram is as Head Coach"

Only if Luke turns the offer down! I'm pretty sure Phil wants him. He wanted him to come before and now he's proven to be capable as the interim coach in GS. So why wouldn't Phil give him the job if he accepted?

mreinman wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:Blah blah blah cut to "let's officially welcome Kurt Ram is as Head Coach"

yeah ... seems like phil made up to keep his stupid friend barring an all out mutiny.

Also, phil knows that rambis will be a triangle puppet and will do EXACTLY what phil says to do (which sucks) and that Walton may actually have an opinion especially since he is on the staff of one of the most potent offenses in history.

I don't know guys, i think it's kinda interesting that he's already interviewed Luke and think that there just could be something going in our favor with this. That's if you want Luke.

newyorker4ever wrote:

mreinman wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:Blah blah blah cut to "let's officially welcome Kurt Ram is as Head Coach"

yeah ... seems like phil made up to keep his stupid friend barring an all out mutiny.

Also, phil knows that rambis will be a triangle puppet and will do EXACTLY what phil says to do (which sucks) and that Walton may actually have an opinion especially since he is on the staff of one of the most potent offenses in history.

I don't know guys, i think it's kinda interesting that he's already interviewed Luke and think that there just could be something going in our favor with this. That's if you want Luke.

well of course we all want luke over rambis.

EnySpree wrote:I think if Luke wants to coach the Knicks he will be our next coach. If he decides to play closer to family or in a warmer climate or near his favorite coffee shop then he won't be here. Nothing to that.

YUP! No conspiracy theories necessary. Luke is the hottest young coaching prospect out there so why wouldn't Phil be legitimately interested?

nixluva wrote:

EnySpree wrote:I think if Luke wants to coach the Knicks he will be our next coach. If he decides to play closer to family or in a warmer climate or near his favorite coffee shop then he won't be here. Nothing to that.

YUP! No conspiracy theories necessary. Luke is the hottest young coaching prospect out there so why wouldn't Phil be legitimately interested?

because his puppet buddy would need to be knocked off.

mreinman wrote:and I also don't think that luke wants to come here and be forced to run the triangle which he may not be a fan of (other than its principles)

Why do some have to jump straight to being negative about this?? Lets let it play out and see if we end up getting Luke to come to New York.

newyorker4ever wrote:

mreinman wrote:and I also don't think that luke wants to come here and be forced to run the triangle which he may not be a fan of (other than its principles)

Why do some have to jump straight to being negative about this?? Lets let it play out and see if we end up getting Luke to come to New York.

nixluva wrote:

EnySpree wrote:I think if Luke wants to coach the Knicks he will be our next coach. If he decides to play closer to family or in a warmer climate or near his favorite coffee shop then he won't be here. Nothing to that.

YUP! No conspiracy theories necessary. Luke is the hottest young coaching prospect out there so why wouldn't Phil be legitimately interested?

NBA legend Bill Walton, father of Luke, recently said his son should stick with the record-breaking defending champions,

StarksEwing1 wrote:

newyorker4ever wrote:

mreinman wrote:and I also don't think that luke wants to come here and be forced to run the triangle which he may not be a fan of (other than its principles)

Why do some have to jump straight to being negative about this?? Lets let it play out and see if we end up getting Luke to come to New York.

i wouldnt mind giving luke a shot but i also want them to reach out to thibs. As long as rambis isnt here thats a start

We all want Thibs but i think by now you should of just about given up on that drean especially after Phil's last presser there when he clearly said he'll be hiring someone he's familiar with.

newyorker4ever wrote:

mreinman wrote:and I also don't think that luke wants to come here and be forced to run the triangle which he may not be a fan of (other than its principles)

Why do some have to jump straight to being negative about this?? Lets let it play out and see if we end up getting Luke to come to New York.

because were are predicting and assuming being that none of us really know jack sh1t.

mreinman wrote:

nixluva wrote:

EnySpree wrote:I think if Luke wants to coach the Knicks he will be our next coach. If he decides to play closer to family or in a warmer climate or near his favorite coffee shop then he won't be here. Nothing to that.

YUP! No conspiracy theories necessary. Luke is the hottest young coaching prospect out there so why wouldn't Phil be legitimately interested?

because his puppet buddy would need to be knocked off.

This is just unnecessary nastiness. Phil actually values Rambis as a basketball man who assisted him in winning titles!!! Just cuz you don't value the guy doesn't mean Phil is wrong. Phil didn't just hand him the job so clearly he left the door open to hiring another coach. Luke is a guy he's also very familiar with as you may recall.

We'll see if Luke is willing to leave the Westcoast. I think the Knicks job is a tough one compared to what he has in GS. It's a move to the big chair working for a man he's worked for before. No job will give him the roster they have in GS, but he'd be coming to NY at a good time. We've got KP, money and all our picks after this year. Plus the Frontcourt is set so there's less to fix going forward.

mreinman wrote:

newyorker4ever wrote:

mreinman wrote:and I also don't think that luke wants to come here and be forced to run the triangle which he may not be a fan of (other than its principles)

Why do some have to jump straight to being negative about this?? Lets let it play out and see if we end up getting Luke to come to New York.

because were are predicting and assuming being that none of us really know jack sh1t.

That makes sense but i don't think you should speak for others.

nixluva wrote:

mreinman wrote:

nixluva wrote:

EnySpree wrote:I think if Luke wants to coach the Knicks he will be our next coach. If he decides to play closer to family or in a warmer climate or near his favorite coffee shop then he won't be here. Nothing to that.

YUP! No conspiracy theories necessary. Luke is the hottest young coaching prospect out there so why wouldn't Phil be legitimately interested?

because his puppet buddy would need to be knocked off.

This is just unnecessary nastiness. Phil actually values Rambis as a basketball man who assisted him in winning titles!!! Just cuz you don't value the guy doesn't mean Phil is wrong. Phil didn't just hand him the job so clearly he left the door open to hiring another coach. Luke is a guy he's also very familiar with as you may recall.

We'll see if Luke is willing to leave the Westcoast. I think the Knicks job is a tough one compared to what he has in GS. It's a move to the big chair working for a man he's worked for before. No job will give him the roster they have in GS, but he'd be coming to NY at a good time. We've got KP, money and all our picks after this year. Plus the Frontcourt is set so there's less to fix going forward.

And people should also not act like we can't get this team back to being a team and place that free agents would love to play for like it used to be.

Toward the end of Walton’s playing career, then-Lakers coach Jackson began inviting Walton to coaches meetings to lift his spirits.
“I was really into what they were doing, and I figured if I can’t play. I’d like to do this coaching thing,” Walton said earlier this season.

newyorker4ever wrote:

mreinman wrote:

newyorker4ever wrote:

mreinman wrote:and I also don't think that luke wants to come here and be forced to run the triangle which he may not be a fan of (other than its principles)

Why do some have to jump straight to being negative about this?? Lets let it play out and see if we end up getting Luke to come to New York.

because were are predicting and assuming being that none of us really know jack sh1t.

That makes sense but i don't think you should speak for others.

newyorker4ever wrote:

nixluva wrote:

mreinman wrote:

nixluva wrote:

EnySpree wrote:I think if Luke wants to coach the Knicks he will be our next coach. If he decides to play closer to family or in a warmer climate or near his favorite coffee shop then he won't be here. Nothing to that.

YUP! No conspiracy theories necessary. Luke is the hottest young coaching prospect out there so why wouldn't Phil be legitimately interested?

because his puppet buddy would need to be knocked off.

This is just unnecessary nastiness. Phil actually values Rambis as a basketball man who assisted him in winning titles!!! Just cuz you don't value the guy doesn't mean Phil is wrong. Phil didn't just hand him the job so clearly he left the door open to hiring another coach. Luke is a guy he's also very familiar with as you may recall.

We'll see if Luke is willing to leave the Westcoast. I think the Knicks job is a tough one compared to what he has in GS. It's a move to the big chair working for a man he's worked for before. No job will give him the roster they have in GS, but he'd be coming to NY at a good time. We've got KP, money and all our picks after this year. Plus the Frontcourt is set so there's less to fix going forward.

And people should also not act like we can't get this team back to being a team and place that free agents would love to play for like it used to be.

when was that?