According to ESPN.com's Ian Begley, the 70-year-old executive revealed Friday he plans to be more involved with the coaching staff during the upcoming season after admitting he may have been too laissez-faire in 2014-15.
While some might consider such a change to be an example of Jackson meddling, Jonah Ballow of NYKnicks.com reported Fisher is the one who wants the former Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers coach to have an increased role.
Fisher, who played under Jackson with the Lakers, also paid his former coach a huge compliment when the topic was discussed during a media-day press conference, per Steve Popper of the Record:
James Herbert of CBS Sports broke down why the decision makes sense:
It's understandable that despite -- or maybe because of -- all his experience on the sideline, he wanted Fisher to have space. This is especially true because Fisher was a first-time coach, and there was the perception that he'd be Jackson's puppet. Now, as long as the players respect Fisher's authority, there's no harm in having Jackson give more of his input. With the Knicks once again trying to run the triangle offense, you'd think he could help teach these guys how to do it properly.
Jackson is undoubtedly a huge asset from a coaching perspective due to the unprecedented success he has enjoyed within that realm.
The fact the Knicks won just 17 games last season suggests they didn't adjust to the triangle offense well, but they were also without superstar Carmelo Anthony for half the year.
New York has a new-look team, and as long as Jackson can strike the balance between lending a helping hand and being overbearing, the players and the coaches will likely benefit from his input.
Jackson commented on several other subjects Friday as well, but perhaps the most intriguing among them, aside from his coaching stance, may have been his thoughts on Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant.
There has been plenty of talk regarding Bryant's potential retirement after this season, and while Jackson believes 2015-16 could be his final year with the Lakers, he doesn't believe it will be Bryant's last season as an NBA player, according to Chris Herring of the Wall Street Journal.
Although Jackson and Bryant had some well-documented issues with each other in L.A., they won five titles together and found a way to make their dynamic work.
It is possible Jackson's comment regarding Kobe was just an innocent opinion, but some observers will undoubtedly jump to the conclusion the Zen Master is plotting to bring the Black Mamba to the Big Apple in 2016.
There has been no indication either side would be interested in a reunion, but it would certainly make Knicks basketball more interesting than it has been in a very long time.
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