LOS ANGELES — Phil Jackson stepped onto the court for the first time as Knicks team president during Tuesday’s morning shootaround at Staples Center and spoke with Carmelo Anthony in the locker room beforehand.
Jackson and Anthony were the two notable figures who remained in the locker room while the rest of the Knicks and coaching staff took the court in preparation for Tuesday night’s Lakers-Knicks contest. It was a short chat, but first time they had spoken beyond hellos.
Through a Knicks official, Jackson declined to talk to media who waited for him by the team bus. Jackson ducked out of the arena without being seen.
As Anthony stepped out of the locker room, he didn’t divulge Jackson was inside and gave no indication he had just chatted with him.
“I’ve seen him here and there,’’ Anthony said coyly before the Knicks’ ugly 127-96 loss to the Lakers. “Not where we sit down and talk. I’m sure we’ll get together very soon.’’
On Sunday, Lakers officials were informed by the Knicks wouldn’t be coming to Tuesday’s contest because it would be too big a distraction. As of the afternoon, the Knicks still weren’t sure if Jackson would attend, but he was spotted by reporters in a Staples Center suite in the second quarter while his fiancee Jeanie Buss of the Lakers sat in her regular courtside seat. Ex-Knick and ex-Laker Metta World Peace visited the suite at halftime.
The Knicks say Jackson, who lives in nearby Playa del Rey, will not travel with the team on the rest of its five-game road trip that continues Wednesday in Sacramento.
Jackson did no instruction at shootaround, sitting with general manager Steve Mills and assistant GM Allan Houston.
“It was great,’’ Woodson said. “He didn’t say a lot but he sat in and watched.’’
Former Laker Shannon Brown said, “Anytime he’s around, anything he can add to preparation for winning basketball games and getting us ready to compete, we appreciate it.’’
Lakers fans, meanwhile, are ticked the Lakers didn’t offer Jackson a front-office job.
The notion the Knicks stole Jackson is bogus, Anthony said.
“I wouldn’t say that,’’ Anthony said. “It’s a clean playing field. Mr. [James] Dolan did what he had to do to bring him in here. I’m sure those guys had the same opportunity.’’
Adding to the intrigue is Anthony, a free agent, could be wooed by the Lakers this summer since they are one of the few teams who have cap space.
“Six degrees of separation,’’ Anthony said. “Us coming back to L.A., knowing Phil’s history out here. Now him being back in New York. There’s a lot going on but our focus is winning this game.’’