Carmelo Anthony never gave input into the coaching search as he had hoped, but he is happy nevertheless Phil Jackson chose Jeff Hornacek to be the Knicks’ next head coach.
In a weekend interview with WNBC, Anthony made his first public comments on the stunning Hornacek hire that could be announced Monday.
“I played against him a couple of times when he was the head coach out there in Phoenix,” Anthony said. “Everybody knows he likes to play an up-tempo pace of game, likes to get out in transition, likes to speed the game up a lot. So from that standpoint, I’ll definitely be looking forward to that.”
Anthony had talked about having a faster pace early in the season and Derek Fisher attempted to implement it before he was fired. But when Kurt Rambis took over in February, the Knicks became one of the slowest-paced teams in the NBA, resorting to a more traditional triangle. Hornacek, sources say, has the flexibility to move away from certain aspects of the triangle.
“It sets the stage for us to do that,” Anthony said of a quicker pace. “[It’s a] new opportunity, something new to play with, something fresh, a clean plate. So hopefully we can build off of this momentum.”
Charley Rosen, Jackson’s pal, told The Post that Anthony’s lack of endorsement for Rambis could have played a role in Rambis not getting the permanent gig. Anthony had several opportunities to back Rambis and passed each time.
Anthony also was outspoken about wanting Jackson to interview a number of candidates. In all of his media interviews after the season, Anthony never even mentioned Rambis. Anthony had reservations about Rambis leading the Knicks to the next level.
“Whatever Phil did, he did on his own,” Anthony told the TV station at an event for the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” film, in which he has a cameo.
Anthony has also asked for input into free agency, wanting to help recruit and be involved in meetings that are allowed to begin July 1. That is a more plausible scenario for Anthony’s inclusion, compared with the coaching search, because he’s known to have strong relationships with players.
Last July, Jackson and general manager Steve Mills went at it alone and their free-agent haul was regarded as modest at best. Anthony seemed bewildered, believing that going into free agency, Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge was strongly considering the Knicks. Ultimately, the two parties mutually agreed not to even meet.