Smith Jr. says Jackson, Knicks had him eat octopus at pre-draft meal

On Friday, deposed team president Phil Jackson was quoted as saying he wasn't sure "WTF just went down the past three years of Knicks basketball."

Apparently, some of that mystery involved octopus tentacle.

Point guard Dennis Smith Jr., who was selected No. 9 in June's NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks, said the delicacy was prominently featured in a pre-draft dinner he had with Jackson and Knicks brass.

"We went out to some restaurant and they had me eat some octopus, like an actual octopus tentacle," Smith Jr. told the New York Daily News' Stefan Bondy. "First time ever. I wasn't going to try it, honestly. They kind of put the pressure on me to do it."

The Knicks ultimately passed on Smith Jr. at No. 8 in the draft, picking Frenchman Frank Ntilikina instead. That decision has been criticized in some quarters, given Smith Jr.'s explosiveness and perceived NBA-readiness.

"I definitely thought (the Knicks were) possible," Smith Jr. said. "I flew in there, I had a great meeting with them. Then the draft came and things just changed. But I'm thankful for everything that did happen."