Isiah Thomas Says He's Not Interested In Returning As Knicks President
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Isiah Thomas isn't interested in returning to the Knicks.
On Thursday, the Daily News' Frank Isola, citing a Madison Square Garden source, reported that Isiah Thomas was a "dark horse" candidate to replace former team president Phil Jackson, who mutually parted ways with the Knicks on Wednesday.
But by Thursday afternoon Thomas tweeted that he doesn't want the job.
"I'm not interested in joining @nyknicks," he wrote. "I'm happy with the @nyliberty & NBATV. I wish the best for the Knicks and @PhilJackson11."
Thomas served as the Knicks' president of basketball operations from 2003-08 and as head coach from 2006-08. In the four full seasons the Hall of Famer was either president or head coach, the Knicks never reached the postseason or finished better than fourth in their division. He was 56-108 as coach.
Despite his poor results and a sexual harassment lawsuit against him that cost MSG $11.6 million, Thomas has reportedly remained close with Knicks owner James Dolan.
In 2010, Dolan tried to bring Thomas back to the Knicks as a paid consultant, but then-NBA commissioner David Stern blocked the move because Thomas was also the head coach at Florida International University, which would have violated NBA bylaws. Since May 2015, Thomas has served as team president of the WNBA's New York Liberty, who are owned by Dolan and MSG.
LISTEN: 'City Game' Podcast: So Long, Phil Jackson
Thomas is not a popular figure among Knicks fans, some of whom staged a rally outside Madison Square Garden in December 2007 calling for Thomas to be fired.
The reaction to the possibility on Twitter was predictably negative Thursday.
Other candidates the Knicks reportedly have interest in to replace Jackson are Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri former Cavaliers general manager David Griffin.
