New York has made a lot of noise this offseason, but Phil Jackson says the hard work is yet to come.
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The Knicks president tweeted what amounts to a challenge to his new-look roster via Twitter on Thursday night.
”We have brought change to the Knicks team. The real dimension of change is how much the players what to unite in this change,” Jackson tweeted. “It's not about bonding and being friends, it's about joining in the effort of playing HARD on every effort.”
It's not about bonding and being friends, it's about joining in the effort of playing HARD on every effort. #respect
— Phil Jackson (@PhilJackson11) July 15, 2016
The Knicks have made a lot of changes. They traded for Derrick Rose and added Joakim Noah, Courtney Lee, Brandon Jennings and others. Only five of the 14 guaranteed contracts on the team return from last year.
Apparently, even members of last year’s team agreed change was needed.
New Lakers point guard Jose Calderon said he thought the Knicks gave him too big of a role when he was with them.
“I always said I wasn’t the one putting me in the starting role or playing me 35 minutes. It could’ve been a guy like a Derrick Rose and I would’ve been the backup point guard. It’s a tough position to play,” Calderon said via the New York Post. “You have to know your strengths and weaknesses. I’ve been in the league 12 years and I know what I do best or not do as well. It’s nothing personal. It’s what the team needed. Hopefully it will work better.’’
Calderon started all 72 games he played in last season, averaging 7.6 points and 4.2 assists for the Knicks, who missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season after finishing 32-50.