Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson publicly spoke for the first time about his tenure as New York Knicks president
Jackson accepted some responsibility for his missteps as the team's top executive but also blamed Carmelo Anthony, the media, and Knicks fans in general for contributing to the team's shortcomings.
"I kind of understand what Trump had to live with probably for his first three-and-a-half years in office with the media," the 75-year-old Jackson said on "The Curious Leader," a podcast hosted by South Bay Lakers head coach Coby Karl, according to the New York Daily News' Stefan Bondy.
From the start of the 2014-15 season until his dismissal in June 2017, the team went 80-166, cycling through three head coaches - Derek Fisher, Kurt Rambis, and Jeff Hornacek - and failing to qualify for the postseason in each campaign.
Jackson added that Anthony - an All-Star selection in each season while in New York from 2011 to 2017 - wasn't an ideal locker room fit.
"Carmelo, I think, wanted to be a leader, but I don't think he completely knew how to be a leader as a player," Jackson said. "And I think that the strength of his personality was intimidating to some of the coaches that were asked to coach the team.
"And so there wasn't this compliance that has to happen between players and coaches. And as much I tried to interject my own beliefs, I don't think you're close enough to the ground in that situation to really be effective in dictating how things are going to be done."
Jackson believes the city's affinity toward Anthony played a role in the team firing him, as the high-scoring forward was reluctant to waive his no-trade clause with around $24 million remaining on his deal.
"I think that (team owner James Dolan) felt like I was facing too big of an uphill climb and relieved me of the job because he just saw the media was going to be backing Carmelo in this situation,” Jackson said. “And I was going to be the guy taking the lumps."
Jackson added: "There are long-devoted Knick fans, and I appreciate their desire, but I think they get in the way of the team a lot of times."
