No zen master return.
The last Knicks championship is approaching its golden milestone, but one of the more polarizing members of the 1973 squad won’t be at the celebration.
Phil Jackson, a forward reserve on the Knicks under Red Holzman, won’t make it to Madison Square Garden for the ceremony at Saturday’s game against the Pelicans, his agent, Todd Musburger, told the New York Daily News.
Jackson, one of the greatest coaches in NBA history, hasn’t been back to MSG since his disappointing run as team president, a tenure that ended in 2017 with a 80-166 record after three seasons. His highlight was drafting Kristaps Porzingis, who played for the Wizards against the Knicks on Friday night. Jackson was among the former players who attended the 40-year anniversary of the title in 2013.
The other living members of the 1973 squad include Clyde Frazier, Bill Bradley, Willis Reed, Earl Monroe, Dick Barnett, Jerry Lucas, Henry Bibby and John Gianelli.
The 50-year celebration of the 1970 title team was canceled in 2020 because of the pandemic.
