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New York Knicks: Former Teammate Confident In Jeff Hornacek

By Kenneth Teape

Nov 3, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson in attendance watches during the third quarter of the game between the Sacramento Kings and Memphis Grizzlies at Sleep Train Arena. The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Sacramento Kings 103-89. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson in attendance watches during the third quarter of the game between the Sacramento Kings and Memphis Grizzlies at Sleep Train Arena. The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Sacramento Kings 103-89. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Knicks new head coach Jeff Hornacek has a lot of support within the organization, but also outside of it from former teammate Kevin Johnson.

The New York Knicks move closer to making the official announcement that Jeff Hornacek will take over the team as head coach. He will be under plenty of pressure to perform in New York, but if the organization wasn’t confident that he would be able to handle it, he wouldn’t have been selected.

While people inside the Knicks are obviously high on Hornacek, there are people outside the organization that are as well. One of those people is Hornacek’s former teammate with the Phoenix Suns and current mayor of Sacramento, Kevin Johnson.

Johnson and Hornacek shared the backcourt with the Suns from 1987-1992, and the former running mates remained close afterwards. Despite having no experience coaching in a market the size of or as ferocious as New York, Johnson is fully confident that Hornacek can get the job done.

“Jeff is someone who understands what it means to play on the biggest stage in New York but won’t be fazed by the bright lights and the pressure of the biggest media market,” Johnson told Marc Berman of The New York Post. “There is nothing bigger than the NBA Finals against Michael Jordan, and Jeff played a key role in those series twice. That experience is invaluable for this job.”

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Johnson has a point there, as there is no bigger stage in the NBA than the NBA Finals. Hornacek was there twice with the Utah Jazz against Phil Jackson, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. It will help him handle the bright lights of New York, something that not everyone can do.

That is probably something that was taken into account, as the hiring surprised many people. Kurt Rambis, Jackson’s right-hand man since joining the Knicks, was looked as the clear favorite for the head coaching job. But, Jackson changed course seemingly in the 11th-hour, hiring Hornacek.

Despite the choice being a surprise to many, it was not a surprise to Johnson. “It doesn’t surprise me at all. Phil got to see Jeff firsthand in those tough-fought finals in 1997 and ’98. They are two guys who appreciate and understand basketball is like a chess match. When I heard that Phil hired Jeff, it made perfect sense to me.”

Johnson knew that Hornacek had the chops to be a coach over 20 years ago when they were playing together, providing more comments to The Post.

"“I don’t know about him being destined, but we all felt he was best suited for it, out of all the players on the team. He was a great teammate. Smart player, very competitive, worked hard, and was focused. He could play on and off the ball. Made sure we were welcomed as newcomers to the team. The minute I arrived, he exhibited professionalism on and off the court. I observed and learned from the way he practiced, prepared for games and took care of himself. Oh yeah, he could shoot lights out. For a jump shooter, the difference between getting your shot off and having it defended is a split second. Jeff’s improvement coming off the screen, catching and shooting improved year after year.”"

The Knicks are hoping that those improvements Hornacek made in his own game as a player he can bring over to their younger players on the roster. The Knicks could use an infusion of talent in their backcourt, but two players currently on the roster, Jerian Grant and Tony Wroten, could really benefit from having Hornacek as head coach.

Both players are athletically gifted but could use an improvement with their jump shot. Hornacek should be able to help them, and give them a system to thrive in. The more open, pick-and-roll guard orientated offense that Hornacek ran with the Suns is a better fit for Grant and Wroten than the triangle offense that the Knicks seemed to be intent on running.

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The system that Hornacek runs will be a topic of discussion throughout the season as his style couldn’t be more different than the principles of the triangle offense Jackson wanted the team to run. But, no matter the style that he plays, Johnson is confident that his old teammate will get the job done as the head coach of the Knicks.

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