Phil Jackson in Conversation with Ben McGrath at the MasterCard stage at SVA Theatre. (Photo : Getty Images/Brad Barket)
New York Knicks president Phil Jackson has been complaining about the media for criticizing him. Jackson's camp is now blaming former Knicks head coach and basketball analyst Jeff Van Gundy for the unfair treatment the 11-time champion coach has been receiving from the New York media.
According to the New York Daily News, Jackson's friend and PR handler Charley Rosen accused JVG of manipulating the New York media and turn them against the Knicks president in a written piece for Today's Fastbreak. Rosen called it a power play by Van Gundy who he thinks the media stays loyal to.
Rosen mentioned that he is not getting why the media has been very hypocritical towards Jackson. They were praising the Zen Master once the Knicks were playing great but blasted him when the team failed to qualify for the playoffs.
Rosen also noted that this New York team was a good improvement from last season's 17-win team. This year's Knicks improved by 15 games to finish with a mediocre record of 32-50 compared to teams like the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets.
However, Rosen's words about the media are biased towards Jackson since he was a former assistant in the CBA and is a long-time friend. He also had no proof on his accusations towards Van Gundy regarding the media power play.
The Knicks fans and media are growing impatient as they were promised of success by Jackson during his first year in the team. It is not a good look for Jackson and his camp to bash the media that already criticizes them for the season they had and their plans for the offseason.
According to Yahoo! Sports, Jackson and Van Gundy have a history of not liking each other since the late 1990s. The feud between the two has continued through the years with JVG even criticizing Jackson's famed Triangle offense.
Nonetheless, Jackson has all the bragging rights between the two as he has won 11 championships as a head coach and is considered as one of the greatest of all time. On the other hand, Van Gundy has not won a title and last coached in 2007 when he failed to lead the Houston Rockets past the first-round.
The 54-year-old coach is currently under consideration to become the new head coach of the Rockets for the 2016-17 season.Check the video below for JVG's comments on Jackson firing Derek Fisher as the Knicks head coach in February.
