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Report: Kerr Gives Hardaway Jr. Only First-Place Vote In ROY Voting

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- If Steve Kerr ends up as the next head coach of the Knicks we won't have to worry about his opinions of Tim Hardaway Jr.

It's clear he loves the guy.

Hardaway finished in fifth place in the voting, which was won by the Philadelphia 76ers' Michael Carter-Williams. However, in Kerr's eyes Hardaway was the NBA's top rookie, as the TNT analyst gave the Knicks' guard his lone first-place vote.

In fact, Kerr had Hardaway first, the Orlando Magic's Victor Oladipo and Carter-Williams third. Oladipo ended up finishing second.

"I base all my votes in every category on players impacting games that matter," Kerr told the NY Post. "Carter-Williams and Oladipo played well, but for teams that were way out of the playoff race all year. Hardaway played important minutes for a team that went down to the wire in the playoff race. ROY and All-Rookie teams were the most difficult votes for me this year due to so few rookies impacting winning teams."

Taken 24th overall in the first round of last year's draft, Hardaway averaged 10.2 points and shot 43 percent from the floor for the Knicks, who finished 37-45 and missed the playoffs.

The Post reported Monday that Kerr could be hired as Mike Woodson's successor some time this week. Team president Phil Jackson was spotted recently having dinner with star forward Carmelo Anthony, a meeting that reportedly featured Jackson explaining to Anthony, who is expected to opt out of his contract and become a free agent, how it was his intention to hire Kerr soon.

Kerr and Jackson have met several times recently, with various reports suggesting the Knicks hope to hire the former shooting guard and five-time NBA champion sometime in early May, after the first round of the NBA playoffs end.

Kerr has never coached professionally.

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