Posted on 01/21/2005 10:36:16 PM PST by NYC GOP Chick
Report: Knicks' Wilkens resigns
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Lenny Wilkens resigned on Friday night as Knicks coach and will be replaced by assistant coach Herb Williams, according to a league source.
The stunning development came just hours after Scott Padgett's jumper at the buzzer gave the Houston Rockets a 92-91 victory over the Knicks at the Garden. Within minutes there were rumors flying around the arena that Knicks president Isiah Thomas had fired Wilkens, the legendary coach whom Thomas hired last Jan. 15.
However, a team source denied that Wilkens had been fired and would only say that Wilkens was contemplating resigning.
"Lenny is doing some thinking right now," said Thomas, who met with his coach for two hours after the loss. "We'll see where he's at in the morning."
Asked if Wilkens was considering stepping down, Thomas said: "That I don't know. This is a tough situation. And I would imagine that he's probably in his thought process where Hubie Brown was in his thought process. Hubie was the Coach of the Year last year. Lenny coached us to the playoffs last year." Brown resigned from the Memphis Grizzlies in December.
It is out of character for Wilkens to resign, considering that in his previous 31 years of coaching he never had stepped down or been fired during a season. The Knicks, who have lost five straight games and nine of 10, are 17-22.
There is a possibility that Wilkens, 67, grew tired of the constant speculation about his job security. Or this could be a case of the Knicks wanting it to look as if Wilkens resigned rather than say he was fired. Thomas, after all, was responsible for hiring Wilkens just over a year ago. After the second game of this season, Wilkens' longtime coaching aide Dick Helm was fired. The Knicks, however, called it a resignation.
Wilkens finishes 40-41.
Last January, Williams, 46, stood in and coached the Knicks to a win over Orlando on the night that Thomas fired Don Chaney. Williams, a former Knicks player, joined the coaching staff on Dec. 29, 2001, and other than the one game has no previous head coaching experience. Williams is well-respected in the locker room and Thomas thought enough of him to promote him over a more qualified assistant, Brendan Suhr. Mark Aguirre and Michael Malone also were under consideration.
The hiring of Williams will increase speculation that the Knicks will take a run at Phil Jackson, the former Bulls' and Lakers' coach. Jackson, a onetime Knick player, has said several times this season that he would be interested in coaching the team.
Detroit Pistons coach Larry Brown is another possibility. He is under contract but there already are rumors that he and the Pistons will part ways.
Thomas, according to sources, wanted to give Wilkens another two weeks, but obviously grew desperate to turn the Knicks' season around. The Knicks own the league's highest payroll at $103 million.
It was thought that Thomas would exercise patience with Wilkens for several reasons. The Knicks have been beset by injuries all season. They have had their top eight players available for just 10 of their first 38 games. Allan Houston, who missed the first 18 games, sat out Friday night's game with a sore left knee and is out indefinitely.
Also, Wilkens' resume and place in NBA history were believed to be enough to buy him some time. Wilkens has won - and lost - more games than any coach in league history. He's in the Hall of Fame as both a player and coach. The Knicks, who are still paying Chaney's contract, owe Wilkens $12 million through the 2007 season.
Three of the Knicks' last four losses have come on last-second shots, including Padgett's leaner at the buzzer on Friday night. The Knicks overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter and were leading 91-88 with 1:31 remaining before self-destructing yet again.
After Yao Ming hit a jumper, Stephon Marbury misfired from 20 feet with 55.9 seconds left. After Yao committed a turnover, the Knicks had possession with 34.2 seconds left and wanted to work the clock down before taking a shot. Wilkens didn't call a timeout, electing to put the ball in the hands of Marbury, his point guard.
Marbury passed to Jamal Crawford with approximately two seconds left on the shot clock, but Crawford fumbled the pass and rushed to throw it back to Marbury. Rather than shoot, Marbury jumped but inexplicably passed back to Crawford as the shot clock expired.
Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy, the former Knicks' coach, called a timeout and designed a play for Tracy McGrady, who led all scorers with 35 points. The Knicks forced the ball out of McGrady's hands before Padgett, guarded by Crawford, took one dribble before hitting a short leaner.
"I got lucky," Padgett said. "I don't think I've hit a floater in my career."
The ball went in just as time expired. Wilkens stood motionless for a few seconds, looking almost in shock. |
I didn't know that Dolan has a daughter!
Okay so it's the T(hug)BA and we should give a rat's patoot why...???
I know Lenny personally, and he's about basketball, not money.
Thomas ruining the Knicks just like he ruined the CBA.
I don't know him, but as someone who used to avidly follow the NBA and was a sportswriter, that was the general assumption. A true gentleman who has been hosed. All season, that twerp GM has been undermining him.
Wilkens: "You can't fire me! I quit!!"
Totally agree.
He's probably going to wind up putting that ex-drug addict pal of his in as permanent head coach.
Yep, Mark Aguirre, his old childhood pal. Back in the Bad Boy days, he pushed Adrian Dantley out of the way so Aguirre could be his teammate. Don't let Thomas' baby face and so-called business style fool you. Thomas is from the hood in Chicago he'd cut your heart out and smile while doing it.
Nah, he's quitting to take another job...he wants to be the first coach to manage every team in the league.
I saw an ESPN Classic special on Isiah Thomas and I literally fell over when I heard he grew up in Chicago in a rough neighborhood filed with gangs and violence. Looking at Thomas you'd think he grew up middle-class and suburban.
Many of us saw this coming for some time now. But the "intrigue" of Big Chief Triangle's name being tossed into the mix adds a new dimension and some tension. :D
> "I got lucky," Padgett said. "I don't think I've hit a
>floater in my career."
And on *this*, the Knicks are considering a coaching change?
> I know Lenny personally, and he's about basketball, not
>money.
I agree. I remember a particular team he allowed to tank because he didn't want to showcase a particular bad seed.
I used to like Thomas until he showed his true colors claiming Larry Bird only got attention because he is white. Since then, he's been Idouchea to me.
Thomas was a good player, but his teams have been under achievers -yet someone keeps hiring him to bring in guys like Lenny. That era is dead and they need to rebuild the NBA. /rant off.
Yeah, I remember Thomas saying that. I also know that he is a left-wing nutcase. Several years ago, I heard him on C-SPAN talking @ a "progressive" news conference.
When MJ was in his first All-Star game, Thomas 'frooze him out' and wouldn't pass him the ball ONCE while they were on the court together.
MJ never forgot that and beating the Pistons Isiah in the Division playoffs during that first Championship season was sweeeeeeeeet revenge for Jordan (and all Bulls fans).
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