Report: Knicks Interested In David Blatt As Next Coach
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The talk about the Knicks removing the "interim" from interim coach Kurt Rambis' title isn't fading, but another candidate has entered the mix.
The Knicks are interested in former Cleveland Cavaliers coach David Blatt, ESPN reported, citing sources. While Rambis is still expected to receive strong consideration for the job, team president Phil Jackson plans to do his due dilgence by speaking to other candidates, the report said.
MORE: Schmeelk: David Blatt Rumors Won't Change Knicks Direction
The Cavaliers fired Blatt, 56, in January despite the team being in first place in the Eastern Conference standings. In Blatt's first season in the NBA in 2014-15, he led Cleveland to the NBA Finals. He was 83-40 as the Cavs' coach.
Before making the jump to the NBA, Blatt was a coach of the year in leagues in Israel, Russia and Europe. He also led the Russian national team to a bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics.
A source told the New York Post in an article that ran Tuesday that Blatt is a long shot to land the Knicks job unless Jackson is planning to pass the torch to general manager Steve Mills. Blatt and Mills were teammates at Princeton, and Blatt served as an usher in Mills' wedding.
Rambis is just 9-18 as the Knicks' interim coach entering Tuesday night's season finale at Indiana. But Jackson said in March that Rambis is "perfectly capable" of coaching the team full-time.
Rambis served on Jackson's staff with the Los Angeles Lakers and runs the triangle offense Jackson favors.
