NBA

Photog says Phil Jackson has the right eye for Knicks

George Kalinsky, the Garden’s legendary photographer, says new Knicks president Phil Jackson earned every mineral of his 1969-70 championship ring — even if he didn’t play a game.

The former Knicks power forward had spinal fusion surgery before the season. Though he could have returned before the playoffs, the Knicks decided to place him on injured reserve to make him ineligible for the expansion draft.

Jackson spent the season as coach Red Holzman’s unofficial assistant coach and Kalinsky’s photography protégé. By season’s end, they had enough striking photos to combine for a picture book together — “Take it All!’’

One that didn’t make the book was Jackson’s iconic photo of Willis Reed being injected in the hip with Carbocaine before Game 7. Coach Red Holzman nixed it and the photo never saw the light of day.

“Red relied on him a lot that season,’’ said Kalinsky, who will take pride Tuesday when he shoots Jackson’s introductory press conference at the Garden. “Red was always asking: What do you think of this, how should we do that? He was definitely part of the team — through his photography and especially the assistant coaching. He was an important part of the team in many ways. He blended in his personality. And the players had tremendous respect for him. He thought it would be another way to be attached to the team in a creative way.’’

Kalinsky accepted Jackson’s request to be his photo partner after they were hanging out on Long Island’s North Shore.

“We were sitting by the water of Long Island Sound,’’ Kalinsky said. “He was always conscious of beauty and nature formations. We’re sitting there amid the huge mansions. He wasn’t interested in that. He saw the blue sky, the rocks, sea glass washing up on shore and the patterns. It brought out his artistic sense. He became a great photographer.’’

Kalinsky admitted when they covered a Grateful Dead concert at MSG, cameras in hand, Jackson got the better shots because of his height.

“He was tall, had a great eye, great sense of design,’’ Kalinsky said. “He had feelings for people and understood people. That’s important being a photographer.’’

“He was passionate about doing it. Anything he does, he does with a passion. That’s the earmark of what makes someone great.’’

Jackson returns with the greatest coaching résumé ever — 11 titles to go with his two Knicks rings as a player. It’s clear Jackson cherishes the 1973 title more. Jackson wrote in his latest book he still feels “guilty’’ about owning a 1969-70 ring. After winning the ’73 title, he penned: “I finally had a ring I could call my own.’’

Kalinsky, Walt Frazier and Cal Ramsey are the only three Garden employees left from Jackson’s Knicks’ days. Kalinsky kept in contact with Jackson, but thought he would become a college philosophy professor sooner than NBA head coach.

On Jackson’s Garden visits as Bulls/Lakers coach, Kalinsky would pick Jax’s brain. Noting Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant couldn’t win a title until Jackson came aboard, Kalinsky was curious.

“I asked him a simple question: what are you doing with this team nobody else did, what is the secret to your winning,’’ Kalinsky recalled. “He told me the players have to love one another. That was one of the keys to winning. He was all about winning.’’

Knicks owner James Dolan is betting $60 million Jackson will change the recent culture. They haven’t won a title since Jackson’s ’73 team. “It’s like Sinatra. Phil’s got the charisma,’’ Kalinsky said. ‘Few people have it in basketball. Phil has it.’’

Kalinsky’s favorite story is when they pitched the picture book to Macmillan Publishers on Fifth Avenue. Jackson was dressed for the interview in shorts, T-shirt, sandals and a straw hat. Kalinsky told him to change. Jackson told him not to worry. When they arrived at the pristine offices, the editor in chief was a Knicks fan from North Dakota — Jackson’s home state. They got the book.

“He was dressed perfectly for that guy,’’ Kalinsky said.