Steve Kerr was smart. He was patient, he did his research.
He trusted Phil Jackson and believed in what Jackson is trying to build in New York, but there were other issues. What is Carmelo Anthony going to do? Actually, a glance at the entirety of the Knicks roster should have given him pause.
And then there’s owner James Dolan.
Dolan says Jackson is in charge and he never really wanted to be involved in the basketball operations anyway — I challenge you to find someone who actually believes that will last. Well, besides Dolan himself. I’m sure he’s convinced himself that is the truth.
Kerr did his research and as part of that talked to former Knicks broadcaster Marv Albert — the voice of the Knicks for 37 years until he and Dolan had a falling out (Dolan reportedly thought Albert too critical of the Knicks). And Albert gave it to Kerr straight, which didn’t help the Knicks cause, reports the New York Daily News.Throughout the process, reports surfaced about Kerr researching Garden culture under Dolan, which included conversations with Albert, his TNT partner. “Steve reads everything. This was not something he didn’t know,” Albert said. “But he wanted to get deeper into it….
“Well, I told him it never ends well there. Just look at recent history. It’s because of one man (Dolan),” Albert told me Thursday over the telephone. “There is no happiness there. I say this with all kinds of friends I have there and (the ones) at the MSG Network. Everybody hates being there. For coaches it’s very difficult. Steve couldn’t accept anyone (from MSG’s PR staff) following him around with a tape recorder. Like Phil, Steve is a guy who wants to say what he wants to say,” Albert continued. “He’s very opinionated, which doesn’t always work when you are at the Garden.”
Reshaping the culture of the New York Knicks is Phil Jackson;s biggest priority — that is what is needed to get top talent to come and to retain it (not hat we are sold Kerr is a top talent yet, but he was Jackson’s guy).
What Albert told Kerr did not make the decision for Steve, there were a lot of factors going into him choosing Golden State — one more guaranteed contract year, vastly superior roster, getting to stay close to his family on the West Coast, and more. But this didn’t help. Kerr wants a situation he can succeed and with the specter of Dolan looming over the organization still it’s legitimate to ask if he will sabotage things. Again.