Phil Jackson Fined for Comments on D’Angelo Russell

As had been expected, the NBA levied a fine on New York Knicks president Phil Jackson after he recently told reporters that Ohio State freshman guard D’Angelo Russell was a “great prospect”.

NBA front-office types aren’t allowed to publicly discuss college underclassmen.

The amount the Zen Master was fined isn’t known.

Per ESPN and Yahoo! Sports:

The NBA has fined the New York Knicks an undisclosed amount for president Phil Jackson’s public comments on Ohio State freshman D’Angelo Russell, NBA spokesman Tim Frank confirmed Tuesday.

 

It is immediately unclear how much money the Knicks were fined.

 

Around the NBA, front-office executives were surprised Jackson would violate the rule, given that it is a well-known rule that his peers understand has to be observed. Most saw it as a window into Jackson’s inexperience as a front-office executive. […] After winning 11 NBA championships as a coach, this is Jackson’s first full season as an NBA executive. The Knicks will have one of the highest picks in the 2015 draft, and Russell is considered the No. 1 point guard prospect in college basketball.