The New York Knicks are looking for a new head coach. Names like Kurt Rambis, Frank Vogel, David Blatt and Luke Walton have been thrown around this offseason in connection to the vacancy, but nothing has stuck quite yet. Whoever the choice ends up being, Knicks star Carmelo Anthony has some specific qualities that he's looking for in the next New York coach.
Beyond X's and O's and motivational speeches, Anthony wants someone who can take control of the locker room and hold this team to a higher standard.
"Being able to hold guys accountable, but also having a relationship with the player," he said. "Kind of seeing things from a player's perspective as well as a coach's perspective. I think if you can build that camaraderie between a coach and a player, I think you're onto something."
Anthony admitted last week that he has not discussed the team's coach search with Phil Jackson, but he does believe it is important that he's kept abreast of important developments as the Knicks continue to interview candidates.
"You gotta think about it, this is gonna be a long-term journey of playing and you consider me being part of that plan then I would want to know what's going on," Anthony said.
It's unknown if Jackson and Anthony have touched base since the forward gave these comments. It does seem odd that Jackson would keep his franchise player in the dark regarding the team's coaching search.
Anthony suggested that Tom Thibodeau, who signed on as coach/president of the Minnesota Timberwolves, would have accepted the New York job had it been offered. The Knicks did not reach out to Thibodeau before Minnesota swooped in for the ex-Chicago Bulls coach. Going forward, Anthony hopes that New York will do its due diligence on a handful of worthy candidates.
"I just want to see the proper procedure gone through, the proper process," he said. "We give everybody a shot to come in and say what they have to say and see if you like that person or not."
Follow Brandon Katz at @Great_Katzby
