Phil Jackson says he’ll be more involved with Knicks coaching staff

Jackson should’ve been offering more advice to Fisher from the start, but if he’s serious about having this team contend for more than a lottery slot this season, he may have to begin attending practices and helping out around the facilities more instead of watching everything from a distance. “Might be his past year as a Laker”. He emphasized that last season was the first for both in their respective roles.

None of this makes clear whether the Knicks would be a potential suitor for Bryant, who’s entering his 20th season with the Lakers. I’d like Kobe to have a great year.

Jackson said he thinks Bryant is going to be better than people think this season after he played a combined 41 games the past two years due to a series of injuries. “I think I’ll be probably even more involved than I was a year ago as far as being here, being watchful, suggestive, watching film together, maybe with Derek at times”.

Fisher added that the two spent the off season “making sure we’re communicating often over several different areas”.

“It’s important for us to keep that in mind and see how he progresses and how he responds to training camp”, Kupchak said Thursday. The team ended up in last place.

“I just want him to be healthy, basically, and then go from there”, Fisher said. It’s a long season.

Fisher, perhaps demonstrating again that he and Jackson are on the same page, agreed.

Jackson, who coached Bryant to five National Basketball Association championships with the Lakers, says: “I don’t think it’s his a year ago”.

“It’s my job to lead them in the right direction”.

Let’s face it, the Knicks struggled to learn the Triangle last season under Fisher. The team will also have small forward Anthony Brown trying to earn minutes on a guaranteed deal, as the Lakers’ 34th overall pick in June.

“He looks great”, Kupchak said.