Jackson says Knicks had to 'eat some dung' but are ready to contend

Neither fans nor media in the Big Apple afford sports executives much of a grace period, something Phil Jackson learned quickly after taking over the New York Knicks.

But even with the team compiling a 59-120 record since he became president in March 2014, Jackson feels the Knicks are on the right track, and described the challenges as forms of growing pains.

"Fiscally, I've been very responsible as president," Jackson told reporters Friday. "I don’t think I really had opportunity with personnel, (but) we've been successful to get in a position where we could operate as a basketball team. That's been our first goal. Eat some dung in the process. We had to do that and live with it. The proof is in the pudding in that this team will prove it is capable."

There's little question the past two seasons have been rough, especially the 2014-15 campaign when the Knicks posted a franchise-worst 17-65 mark. Nevertheless, Jackson maintains that playoff basketball is on its way, and believes only injuries can thwart this team.

"There's been a lot of anticipation about this season," Jackson said. "We see this as a team that has potential of really being a good basketball club, one that will compete. With them being successful or not successful, it will be the injury factor. Otherwise, they’re going to be there. They're good enough ballplayers."

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The Knicks' two-pronged upgrade at point guard this summer, Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings, have missed a combined 195 games through injury since 2013.

It's for reasons like this - among others - that the majority of pundits view the Knicks as a lower-tier playoff team at best. New head coach Jeff Hornacek is predicting good luck, however.

"I think we're not going to have injuries," Hornacek said. "I don't think we're going to have to talk about it."