No one was prouder at Tuesday’s Phil Jackson introductory press conference at the Garden than a beaming Irving Azoff, music-industry mogul and now basketball matchmaker.
Azoff, best known as manager of the Eagles, invited two friends — Knicks owner James Dolan and Phil Jackson — to his Christmas party in Beverly Hills in mid-December.
“I can’t say I didn’t have ulterior motives in getting them to the same party,’’ Azoff told The Post.
Azoff secluded Dolan and Jackson in his home office while the party raged on outside. They spoke for two hours. Three months later, they were making history — together on a podium in the Garden’s new atrium with the Hall of Famer Jackson now running the Knicks.
“This is everything I had hoped for and more,’’ said Azoff, who sat in the front row with Eagles band member, Glenn Frey. “If you asked me in December, what I thought the odds were, I thought the odds were long. Personally, I didn’t see Phil leaving the West Coast. Sometimes you pull an inside straight.’’
Dolan hasn’t had much luck with his recent big-name hires, but he couldn’t stop praising Azoff, saying he helped negotiate the deal beyond December intros.
“Thank you, Irving,’’ Dolan said. “If this doesn’t go well, we’ll blame you.’’
Azoff thinks this will be a good match, feeling Dolan and Jackson are both avid music aficionados, sharing a common bond. Dolan has a blues band that often opens for the Eagles. Dolan has worked with Azoff’s company since 2004 and Azoff now runs Dolan’s newly refurbished Forum in Los Angeles.
“Jim is an artist and creative person,’’ Azoff said. “Phil and Jim spent enough time together, they see things the same. They see this is about the players and fans. That laid the basis for their bond. These two guys are going to be a formidable team.’’
Azoff is a Lakers season-ticket holder who sits on the floor and got to know Jackson better through late Lakers owner Jerry Buss, who attached himself to the L.A. music scene.
“New York is a great place for Phil at this point of his life,’’ Azoff said. “He’s got a big brain and he’s a big thinker. He’s got a vision and he’s a leader. I think he’ll even be better at president than as coach. My other friend, Pat Riley, went down to Miami and did a pretty good job.’’
As for Dolan, Azoff said, “The criticism is unfair because of his effort. He’s had some bad luck. The New York press can be a snake pit. People in New York hold you to a higher standard. Hey, the East Coast critics never liked the Eagles.’’