Jackson dispels notion of Dolan interference

Apr 23, 2014 - 10:54 PM Greenburgh, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - New York Knicks president Phil Jackson said the report of interference by owner Jim Dolan in personnel moves is untrue.

A report in the New York Daily News on Wednesday said Dolan and Jackson have already clashed over personnel decisions. The paper cited a team source as saying Jackson would like to change certain staff members, but has been opposed by Dolan.

When Jackson was hired in March, Dolan said the 11-time NBA champion coach would make decisions on all basketball-related matters.

Jackson met with media members Wednesday at the team's practice facility to discuss his first major move as team president, the firing of head coach Mike Woodson and what he is looking for in a new coach, but was also asked about the Daily News story.

"As far as Jim Dolan's promise or his premise when I took this job's he's going to leave basketball decisions up to me, really, he's been loyal to that promise," Jackson said. "He's been very true to his word to this point."

The Daily News story didn't specify what staff changes Jackson wanted to make.

Jackson said Wednesday he won't return to the bench as Knicks coach and did confirm that current TNT analyst Steve Kerr is a likely candidate for the position.