PHOENIX — Former Knick Tyson Chandler said he had only two conversations with team president Phil Jackson.
“The day he came and the day I was leaving,” Chandler said. “Both were short, brief. I don’t know him. I don’t have anything to say about him either way
Jackson was hired late in March 2014, and traded Chandler to Dallas in June for Jose Calderon, Samuel Dalembert, Shane Larkin, Wayne Ellington and two second-round picks. That deal didn’t net the Knicks much, but Calderon eventually was moved in the trade for Derrick Rose.
Chandler is from Southern California so seeing how Jackson has gotten under the skin of LeBron James and upset Carmelo Anthony with recent comments hasn’t surprised him.
“Honestly I don’t think it’s anything new,” Chandler said. “I grew up in L.A. I remember reading clips about Phil and Kobe [Bryant] and Shaq [O’Neal], and this and that. It is what it is. You’re in New York so it’s different.”
But Chandler understands how those comments can motivate players, especially on opposing teams.
“Can it motivate LeBron on the opposite side? Hell yeah,” Chandler said. “We have 82 games. Anything that’s going to fire you up you take it.”
Chandler was a Defensive Player of the Year and made his only All-Star team as a Knick. He also played on their last playoff team in 2012-13 and likes their potential now.
“I like their roster,” Chandler said. “I think they got great heart, great talent, great young players. I think the franchise is in good hands, especially with [Kristaps] Porzingis. I thought they did a good job with mixing the vets around him to help him out.
“Melo is still Melo. Score the ball. I think he’s one of the best players in our league. Derrick Rose is looking like Derrick Rose. Not that I felt like he ever left, but he was battling through some injuries.”
..... - Newsday