Reports: Coaching Legend Phil Jackson Not Interested In Nets Job

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Nets are searching for a new coach after P.J. Carlesimo was let go by general manager Billy King this past Sunday.

Following Carlesimo's dismissal, numerous reports surfaced that Brooklyn was going to attempt to lure Phil Jackson to the outer borough.

On WFAN radio on Tuesday, King wouldn't confirm reports that said the Nets have contacted the 11-time NBA coaching champion. But he did admit that he has interest in the 67-year-old.

"I'm not going to say if we have or not," King told WFAN's Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts. "As I said, we would reach out and see — basically, I want to talk to Phil, see what he's going to do, what he wants to do, and talk some basketball."

Well it appears that Jackson coming to Brooklyn is a moot point, anyway, as multiple reports indicated on Wednesday that Jackson has in fact informed the team that he will not be the club's next head coach.

The former Knicks and Nets player would like a front-office position that would "give him total control of a franchise," a source told Sports Illustrated. With owner Mikhail Prokhorov running the show in Brooklyn, don't expect Jackson to be given that kind of carte blanche any time soon.

For Jackson to return to coaching, "the situation would have to be perfect," a source told ESPN. The source also told the network that conversations between the coaching legend and Brooklyn were "very limited."

The Nets previously eyed Jackson in December after firing Avery Johnson.

On the other hand, Jerry Sloan told Comcast Sports Net Northwest that he "would definitely listen" if the Nets called.

Sloan and Nets point guard Deron Williams had a touch-and-go relationship in Utah, though both have said they'd be open to a reunion.

"I won't rule anybody out at this point in time," King said after Carlesimo was let go. "We're going to look everywhere."

King, who received a contract extension during the Nets' Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series against the Bulls, added that Brooklyn isn't limiting its search to a "a high-profile guy," but rather the franchise is "looking for the right guy."

You May Also Be Interested In These Stories