The Knicks coaching search has gone from sloppy to embarrassing, and one of their former coaches, Rick Pitino, proactively said he has no interest in the job.
But Pitino did stump for one of his former Knick players, suggesting they hire Mark Jackson in the Garden.
And the seemingly blackballed Jackson — who hasn’t coached in over a decade — appreciated the endorsement of his mentor.
“He’s a legend. I love him to death,” Jackson, speaking on SiriusXM NBA Radio, said of Pitino, who coached the point guard during his first two seasons with the Knicks.
Jackson won NBA Rookie of the Year under Pitino in 1988 and was an All-Star the next season.
“I’m not in the league 17 years playing if he’s not my first coach,” Jackson said. “I’m forever grateful, and he’s Coach to me.
“He’s a brilliant basketball mind. He’s turned over St. John’s University and turned back the hand of time to bring them back to their glory days. It’s great to watch. It’s fun to watch. He’s one of the greatest coaches in the history of sports, not just basketball. And on top of that, he’s got great taste by that statement.”
One can question the Knicks’ taste in abruptly firing Tom Thibodeau on June 3, just three days after they were eliminated from their first Eastern Conference finals since 2000.
2018 game. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Since then, Knicks president Leon Rose has been denied permission to speak with Dallas’ Jason Kidd, Houston’s Ime Udoka, Minnesota’s Chris Finch, Atlanta’s Quin Snyder and Chicago’s Billy Donovan, according to multiple reports.
The Post’s Stefan Bondy has confirmed the Knicks are expected to interview former Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins and former Kings coach Mike Brown, each fired earlier this season.
The Post reached out to the agents for both Jenkins and Brown on Saturday, with neither returning calls.
Though there is no indication Jackson is a candidate for a Garden return, Pitino — who coached the Knicks from 1987-89, and earned AP Coach of the Year this season for St. John’s — took to social media earlier this week to tell his former employer that there is an ideal candidate actually available.
“I obviously coached our rookie of the year, Mark Jackson,” Pitino tweeted Wednesday. “I believe he spent 18 years in the NBA as a player. Great coach with the Warriors and one of the brightest minds I’ve coached. Would love to see the Knicks bring Mark Jackson home!!”
Certainly New York would be a return home for Jackson, after growing up in Brooklyn and starring at St. John’s before having two stints with the Knicks in a 17-year playing career.
He coached Golden State from 2011-14 and played a key role in turning around a losing Warriors team into a contending team.
But after posting a 121-109 record with two playoff appearances in Golden State, Jackson was fired in 2014 and hasn’t coached since.
The Post also has reported that ex-Villanova coach Jay Wright isn’t interested in the Knicks job despite the presence of former Wildcats Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart.
UConn’s Dan Hurley also preemptively withdrew.
Michael Malone (who won the 2023 NBA title with Denver), Frank Vogel (who won with the Lakers in 2020) and Mike Budenholzer (who won with Milwaukee in 2021) are available, as are Detroit assistant Luke Walton and Cleveland assistant Johnnie Bryant, the latter of whom was Thibodeau’s associate head coach from 2020-24.
