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As a coach, Phil Jackson’s surplus of NBA championship rings outnumbers the fingers on both of his humongous hands. But as a GM, earning another piece of prestigious jewelry seems farther away than the days of Red Auerbach.
Pat Riley has earned rings under all hats. He has one as a player, one as an assistant coach, five as a head coach and two as an executive, the latter of which appears impossible for Jackson to replicate.
Jackson ironically finds himself in a Michael Jordan type of scenario. He displayed rarefied success with his former team only to come back to another organization, and from the outset, appear to fail miserably. The New York Knicks are relieving cap costs, but they’ve also created an environment that attracts next to no one. Few stars seriously consider New York as their next NBA destination, and even fewer are thrilled about the Empire State’s tax structure.
The NBA players of now want to play in Texas, Florida or in places where the income tax doesn’t pilfer nearly half of your salary. Jackson accepted this job, but even the Zen Master may not be up to this complicated task.
This brings the discussion back to Riley, and more importantly, Riley’s legacy. What does it say about an NBA icon who can win from all vantage points of the game? And does it echo louder with seeing the struggles of Jackson? I know it gives me an added appreciation for Riley, seeing how amorphous a winner he’s become.
The next two years will seal the vault on this speculation, with the next two offseasons unveiling whether or not Jackson can lure high-market stars to the bright lights and high expectations of New York City. It’s either too early to call or too late to realize, but in the pursuit of cementing legends into the NBA pantheon, I believe more credit is due to Riley.
Jerry Landry is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow Jerry on Twitter at @Jerry2Landry, “Like” him on Facebook or add him on Google.
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