Hornacek would replace another former Suns player, interim Knicks coach Kurt Rambis, who played in Phoenix alongside Hornacek from 1989-91.
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Jeff Hornacek interviewed with Phil Jackson for the Knicks’ vacant head coaching position, according to multiple reports.
There had been plenty of rumors that Kurt Rambis would be getting the head coaching job, and all signs pointed towards that.
The report also noted that Hornacek is “linked or interviewed for nearly every head coaching vacancy there was this offseason” and so this talk with the Knicks is just one of the many choices he has so far this summer. He was runner-up for NBA Coach of the Year in 2013-14 but was sacked after the Suns opened the 2015-16 season with a 14-35 record. He was also a part of the group that went to the NBA Combine, along with general manger Steve Mills, to represent the Knicks. Vogel and Blatt also are said to be in the mix in for the jobs with the Grizzlies and Rockets.
But, Carmelo Anthony had hoped that there would be an expanded search for the head coaching spot.
Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek talks to an official in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, in NY. Until the last several days, Jackson had only spoken to Rambis and Blatt, and had a phone conversation with Luke Walton, who took the Lakers’ coaching job. Blatt, Vogel and Hornacek don’t run the triangle, but it’s possible that Jackson could hire one and make Rambis the associate head coach to be in charge of the offense.
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Vogel is known mostly for his defensive chops and his ability to work with the triangle system is likely to be a key consideration, given Jackson’s desire to keep it in place going forward.
