NBA

Carmelo wants no part of Phil coaching, and isn’t sold on Rambis either

OAKLAND — Carmelo Anthony declared it a lousy idea for Knicks president Phil Jackson to return to the sidelines next season, saying the 70-year-old’s too old for the job. Anthony added he wouldn’t even approve of a scenario in which Jackson would coach just home games.

Anthony didn’t sound overjoyed with interim coach Kurt Rambis either, giving a lukewarm endorsement. Anthony said he’d be OK with Rambis’ return, but Jackson also should talk to “other candidates.”

One of the top candidates is Luke Walton, assistant coach of the Warriors, whom the Knicks face Wednesday at Oracle Arena.

“Phil ain’t coaching no more, man,’’ Anthony said Tuesday. “Let’s kill that rumor. Phil ain’t coaching no more.”

Jackson’s name was linked to the bench next season in a Jackson profile published by ESPN that contained this vague throwaway line near the end: “There’s even talk Jackson could offer to coach home games next season, with Rambis coaching the road games.” The unsubstantiated line caused a mini-buzz, even if there was no detail on where the “talk” was coming from.

Phil JacksonAP

“I don’t think that should be accepted, I wouldn’t accept that if that was the case,’’ Anthony said of the home/road split. “That would be tough to do. Phil’s cool. He doesn’t need to be on the sideline anymore. He put so many years into the game. He doesn’t need to be on the sideline. I don’t think he’s thinking about coming back on the sideline. I hope not.”

Jackson, who did not accompany the Knicks to the Bay Area, staying back in LA, recently gave strong support for his buddy Rambis during a press conference at Staples Center, saying he’s “perfectly capable.’’

Anthony only went so far.

“I think he should consider Kurt at that job,’’ Anthony said after the Knicks practiced Tuesday. “I think he brought in Kurt for that reason if anything was to happen [with Derek Fisher]. I think it’s how Kurt handles the situation right now, how the team does and responds to Kurt. But you still have to go out there and at least listen to other candidates.”

Kurt Rambis with Kobe Bryant before a game against the Lakers.NBAE via Getty Images

And Jackson should cross Jackson off the list.

“He’s 70 years old, he don’t want to be on the sidelines, but he actually looks pretty good for his age,’’ Anthony said. “He don’t want to deal with not just the game, but the strenuous schedule and mentally getting focused for games and preparing for teams and sitting on the sidelines. He doesn’t want to deal with that.’’

Jackson was emphatic when he fired Fisher last month that he would never return to the sidelines due to health concerns. The ESPN report suggested Jackson has gotten in better shape in recent months, having lost 20 pounds. Jackson, soon after taking the presidency, mentioned his fiancee Jeanie Buss trying to convince him to return as coach.

Rambis said there’s been “no talk’’ of that home/road split-coaching arrangement, but remembers it being bandied about in Los Angeles when Jackson was mulling one of his returns to the Lakers.

“That’s old news,’’ Rambis said. “That was something we talked about — and it was never even close to coming to fruition — but it’s something we talked about years ago. Not with the Knicks. It’s never gotten even close to something realistic. It was years ago.’’

Rambis said Jackson, winner of a record 11 NBA titles as coach, will never run the sidelines again.

“No, I don’t think that,’’ Rambis said. “He comes out in practices sometimes. He’s a perfectionist. But coaching is a grind. I don’t see it. He’s never given me that indication.’’