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Carmelo on why Phil Jackson failed in NY
© Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Carmelo Anthony reveals why Phil Jackson failed to revive Knicks

When Phil Jackson was named the president of the New York Knicks in 2014, many expected his experience and expertise to bring some respectability back to New York. People also thought he could help elevate Carmelo Anthony's game to new heights. 

However, Jackson fell short of those expectations. His tenure in New York was chaotic, to say the least. Ultimately, Anthony was traded to the Thunder in exchange for Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott, and a 2018 second-round pick.

On The Old Man and the Three Podcast with JJ Redick, Anthony explained why the partnership did not work between him and Jackson, saying that the 11-time champion failed to keep up with the way that the game has evolved.

"The game is getting faster. Guys are getting quicker. Guys are jumping out the gym. It's like, 'No, we can't slow it down when we got a fast break. We can't play in the two-guard front when we got Derrick Rose and Raymond Felton'—you can't do that... Again, we start slowing the game down. That's where you see guys wasn't comfortable in that situation, and I was one of them."

Anthony turned out to be a less than ideal fit with the Thunder as well, and his short-lived stint with the Houston Rockets made some wonder if his career was over. However, he ended up finding a home in Portland and became a valuable contributor for the Trail Blazers. He said he hopes to return to the team next season, saying he felt he "found a home in Portland."

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