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If you’re a Knicks fan you remember the Isiah Thomas era all too well unfortunately, because it has effected the franchise to this day.3
Apparently Knicks president Phil Jackson wasn’t sold on the idea of James Dolan bringing Isaiah Thomas on board to run the New York Liberty.
Jackson discussed Dolan’s hiring of Thomas:
“Jim Dolan had talked to us about it over dinner, maybe a month before it happened. We said, “Are you cognizant of the fact that this at least has the look of putting the fox in the henhouse?” Is that a good term? In reviewing the history of it, we were told what the approach was by the Garden and how it went down. Jim said, “If you have any suggestions that you want to come back with, I’m open.” And not being in that field, I didn’t have any information. It’s not where my head is at. So we’re not giving them any advice, and it’s going both ways.”
James Dolan has made some odd hires, and the Isaiah Thomas hire was as weird as it gets. Thomas being back in New York is alarming, but to be in charge of the women’s professional team? Phil Jackson may have thought that too, but Jackson might be on the terms of let me do my job and I’ll let him do his.
Here’s a look back at Thomas’ tenure with the Knicks.
Thomas got into hot water after being accused of sexual assault back in 2007, which the jury found Thomas and Madison Square Garden liable for sexual harassment.
I’m sure Jackson doesn’t want any unneeded attention on the organization while he’s in the middle of rebuilding the team and trying to change the culture of the New York Knicks.
Obviously, with Thomas and Jackson working in different leagues this is much ado about nothing, but still important that you keep your team president and hall of fame coach satisfied that you won’t make his job harder than it already is.
