Michael Jordan Confident Phil Jackson Will Succeed in New York

According to Michael Jordan, his old Chicago Bulls head coach Phil Jackson will thrive as president of the New York Knicks. MJ says Jackson will learn on the job, and do so quickly. Per ESPN:

“Phil can do some good things with them because he’s gifted,” Jordan said on Monday. “Phil is fantastic at managing egos and personalities, getting everyone on the same page and maxing out whatever potential is there for what should be the common and ultimate goal.

“Just because he’s never been an executive before doesn’t mean he can’t do that. He’s wanted to do it for a while now, and I know he can do it … so long as he has the necessary pieces in place.”

Jordan, the chairman of the Charlotte Bobcats, said Jackson will learn the landscape of the NBA as an executive quickly. And Jordan, who won six championships with Jackson, is glad to help his old coach short of doing him any favors in a trade with the Bobcats.

“Phil is great,” Jordan said. “He’s very smart. He’ll figure out pretty quickly what needs to get done, and he’ll have plenty of guys in the league willing to help him, myself included.

“The only problem is none of us will be willing to give up great players or draft picks to do that. That’s the part of the job all of us have found pretty difficult, me included. But I wish him luck. I believe in him, and I’m confident anything he does will work eventually.”