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 Jackson, hired last month to turn around the struggling
franchise, said in a statement that the entire coaching staff had
been relieved of their duties.
"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Mike Woodson and his
entire staff," said Jackson, who won a record 11 NBA titles as head
coach of the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers in the previous
two decades.
"The coaches and players on this team had an extremely difficult
2013-14 season, and blame should not be put on one individual.
"But the time has come for change throughout the franchise as we
start the journey to assess and build this team for next season and
beyond."
Despite a late surge in which the Knicks won 16 of their last 21
games, New York finished the season with a 37-45 record and missed
the playoffs by one game after winning the division title last year
and reaching the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
In parts of three seasons with the Knicks, Woodson compiled an
overall record of 109-79 that included two consecutive NBA playoff
appearances and the team's first Atlantic Division title in 19
years.
Woodson, 56, formerly coached six seasons with the Atlanta Hawks and
has a career head coaching record of 315-365.
The search for a new coaching staff will begin immediately, the team
said.
Jackson, 68, was officially appointed in March as the Knicks
president in his first NBA front office job and vowed to help
restore a winning culture to the franchise.
Before turning to coaching, Jackson won two NBA titles with the
Knicks as a player in the early 1970s, the last time the franchise
has won the championship.
Steve Kerr, who won three titles as a player under Jackson with the
Bulls and serves as a TV broadcast analyst, has been widely
mentioned as a possible choice by Jackson to steer the team, although
he has no head coaching experience.
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MORE CHANGES
During a speech to Knicks players following the last regular-season
game on Wednesday against the Toronto Raptors, Jackson had vowed to make changes
to the roster. "Phil was honest; he said it was a disappointing season," an unnamed
Knick player told the New York Daily News. "He told us that there
will be changes in the locker room and that not all of us will be
back."
One big question mark hanging over the team is the future of their
high-scoring forward Carmelo Anthony, who could choose to test the
free agent market on July 1.
The seven-time All-Star, who finished second behind Kevin Durant in
last season's scoring list with an average of 27.4 points per game,
could make considerably more money by remaining should the team
offer him a maximum salary.
Under NBA rules, Anthony, who turns 30 next month, can be signed to
a five-year contract by the Knicks worth nearly $130 million. If he
signs with another team, the maximum he can get is just under $96
million for four years.
The future of many veterans including guards Raymond Felton and
Pablo Prigioni, forwards Amar'e Stoudemire and Kenyon Martin, and
center Tyson Chandler, along with young swingman Iman Shumpert,
remain under a cloud.
Knicks owner James Dolan joined Jackson in addressing the team after
the season finale.
"He said we left the fans wanting more," the player told the Daily
News about the owner's message. "Mr. Dolan said he was disappointed
with how the season played out and that we have to begin working on
being a winner again right away.
"He said he wants to be able to say that we're a championship
contender next season." (Reporting by Larry Fine; editing by Julian Linden and Frank Pingue)
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