NBA

Isiah thinks Phil will be surprised by Woodson’s triangle mastery

Former Knicks president Isiah Thomas said he wouldn’t be surprised if new Knicks president Phil Jackson elects to keep Mike Woodson around next season when he realizes his former Indiana University teammate has the goods to implement any system, including the Zen Master’s triangle offense.

Jackson gave a lukewarm endorsement of Woodson at Tuesday’s introductory press conference, calling him a “good coach” and saying the two would have “discussions” after the season.

Speaking on Sirius XM radio Wednesday afternoon, Thomas said, “I want to say this about Coach Woodson: It’s been talked a lot about just how the next coach will come on. I think Phil is going to be pleasantly surprised when he sits down and has a conversation with Mike Woodson about his understanding of basketball and his understanding of implementing a triangle, if that’s what he wants implemented, and understanding the system and style of play.

“We all come from championship backgrounds, we all come from championship philosophies, and coaches and Woodson will not have a problem understanding and implementing the nuances of the triangle if that’s what Phil wants done,” Thomas added.

Thomas tried to hire Jackson in 2005 to be head coach of the Knicks, but he turned them down.

“When I spoke to Phil [in 2005] I really believed, as I believe today, that he and Jim [Dolan] will have a great relationship because they come from a place of compassion,” Thomas said. “They come from a place of trying to do right by their fellow human being. And even though Phil and Jim have had to make some tough choices in their life, in terms of, sometimes maybe they had to hurt someone within the sport or within their business that they truly loved, but the business came before the sport.

“I think they both are insatiable about winning and I think they want to win in a particular way. … [Phil] has followers who believe in his way of doing things, and I believe he and Jim will get along fantastically in this relationship.”