Phil Jackson Out As Knicks President

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — The New York Knicks will part ways with President of Basketball Operations Phil Jackson — who has 11 NBA championships to his name as a coach and two as a player — after three years with the team.

The Knicks called the decision a "mutual" agreement, the team announced Wednesday morning. Jackson will leave his role with the team immediately, the Knicks announced.

"After careful thought and consideration, we mutually agreed that the Knicks will be going in a different direction," Knicks Owner James Dolan said in a statement. "Phil Jackson is one of the most celebrated and successful individuals in the history of the NBA. His legacy in the game of basketball is unmatched. We wish him the best and thank him for his service to the Knicks as both a player and an executive."

Dolan announced that he will not be involved with the team's basketball operations during the search for Jackson's successor. Knicks General Manager Steve Mills will take over the team's day-to-day operations in the interim.

The Knicks are targeting Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri to replace Jackson, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical first reported.

Jackson's tenure with the Knicks can be summed up with one word: Disappointment.

When "The Zen Master" took over the team's operations in 2014 Knicks fans celebrated Jackson's homecoming. In 1967 Jackson began his basketball career as a player for the Knicks and the franchise won its only two championships during his 11 years with the team.

Jackson went on to great success as a coach, winning 11 championships during tenures with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. Jackson famously employed the triangle offense and coached some of the game's greatest players including Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.

But Jackson found no such success with the Knicks. The lone bright spot of his tenure ended up being the selection of Latvian-born Kristaps Porzingis in Jackson's second draft at the helm of the Knicks. During this year's draft Jackson admitted that he was shopping Porzingis in trades to other teams.

"The New York Knicks will always hold a special place in my heart," Jackson said in a statement. "This team and this town launched my NBA career. I will forever be indebted to them. I am grateful to Mr. Dolan for giving me the opportunity to return here."

"I had hoped, of course, to bring another NBA championship to the Garden. As someone who treasures winning, I am deeply disappointed that we weren’t able to do that. New York fans deserve nothing less. I wish them and the Knicks organization all the best – today and always."

During Jackson's three-year tenure the Knicks had a record of 80 wins and 166 losses.

Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images