Good morning, the Phil Jackson saga got even weirder
Huge salary numbers, weird living arrangements and speculative titles? That’s Phil in New York! That and a whole lot more in Wednesday’s NBA newsletter.
Stephen Dunn
Good morning. Let’s basketball.
A TOTAL CLUSTERPHIL: No one seems to know for sure what’s going on with the Phil Jackson situation in New York. Berman of the Post reports that the Zen Master agreed in principle on Saturday to some role that includes the word “president” in its title (not joking) and involves actually living in New York.
Frank Isola of the Daily News, meanwhile, reports that nothing’s done but Jackson is looking for $15 million a year, the right to live in California during the season and an ownership stake. Oh, and that Bill Bradley is working to recruit Jackson. Guh.
This is the best explanation of the Phil Jackson situation yet. And this is the best explanation of why everything is so infuriating to Knicks fans.
PATRICK BEVERLEY ANGST PARTY: So on Tuesday Patrick Beverley continued to do the thing to Russell Westbrook that led to Westbrook’s torn meniscus (jump a forward dribble) last season. The Thunder were not pleased, and eventually Reggie Jackson tried to turn the table on Beverley. These teams play once more in the regular season, and I have a feeling someone’s getting sucker punched.
DOINK: Before a massive, ill-fated comeback attempt, the Bulls trailed by up to 27 points to the Spurs in the first half. Because of hilarious sequences like this.
OOF: The worst reverse dunk attempt by an actual NBA player not named Andrea Bargnani you will ever see.
BYNAMIC: Andrew Bynum played on Tuesday. And he was good.
MORE SCORES: Lots of interesting action. Check out all our team blog recaps.
BACK TO THE FUTURE: What history tells us -- and Joel Embiid -- about elite big men with back injuries.
7 QUESTIONS: Zach Lowe’s must-read Tuesday column focuses on the big questions playing this regular season off.
ISAIAH THOMAS IS A BASKETBALL GENIUS: James Herbert with a spectacular interview with Kings point guard Isaiah Thomas. It’s impossible to not enjoy I.T. Impossible.
THE PROBLEM WITH EVAN TURNERS: Wait, did I say “problem”? I meant “problems”.
HOW BLAKE GRIFFIN DESTROYED THE SUNS: In GIF form, natch.
SPEAKING OF GIFS: Watch a ballboy narrowly avoid getting trucked by Tyler Hansbrough and a ref.
A.I. AND LARRY: Interesting story from Pat Croce about Iverson and Larry Brown.
INTERESTING: Which college coaches produce the most NBA talent?
THE VOGEL WEAVE: That is a thing that exists and is great.
WELL, THE NAME FITS: Goran Dragic, whose name sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, with a light saber.
OF COURSE!: Shaq was a pre-IPO investor in Google and Facebook, spends $1,000 per week on apps and in-app purchases.
Happy Wednesday. See you next time.
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