Latest On Carmelo Anthony, Phil Jackson

Knicks president Phil Jackson was quiet once again after his team suffered an embarrassing home loss to the Lakers on Monday, but he did issue a public statement of sorts this afternoon. In his first tweet of 2017, Jackson drew attention to Kevin Ding’s latest piece for Bleacher Report.

Ding’s article suggests that Carmelo Anthony isn’t as dedicated to winning as Jackson’s previous stars, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. In Ding’s view, Jackson believed when he arrived in New York that he could get more out of Anthony, and has been unsuccessful in turning him into something he’s not. The piece drew a response from Jackson, who seemed to agree with the general premise, though he took exception to one part.

“Bleacher’s Ding almost rings the bell,” Jackson tweeted today. “But I learned you don’t change the spot on a leopard with Michael Graham in my CBA daze.”

Graham, a Georgetown standout in the mid-1980s, landed on Jackson’s CBA team in 1986 after academic problems cost him his spot on the Hoyas. Graham got into an in-game altercation with Jackson and was waived several days later, having appeared in just 11 games for the Albany Patroons. Jackson later wrote in his memoir that he was unable to get through to Graham, whose eyes would “glaze over” when Jackson tried to talk to him (link via Alan Siegel of The Washingtonian).

The parallel line Jackson appears to draw from Graham to Anthony isn’t exactly a flattering one, and may further alienate the star forward. Anthony has repeatedly said he’d like to remain in New York, and has the power to veto any trade, but Jackson and the Knicks have created a potential rift in the relationship. Jackson’s tweet today suggests the team president isn’t exactly attempting to mend that rift.

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