After Marv Albert saw the back page of The Post on Friday, he said he clipped out the picture of Steve Kerr and hung it on his wall. Of course, the former Knicks legendary broadcaster was cracking wise, but his fondness for Phil Jackson’s potential new head coach is sincere.
Albert has been Kerr’s broadcast partner on and off for eight years at TNT, with Kerr’s stint as Suns general manager sandwiched between his time on TV. Albert and Kerr will call the Game 1 of the Wizards-Bulls series in Chicago on Sunday and will be together in Brooklyn for a Raptors-Nets game next weekend.
How much longer they remain TNT’s top duo is up in the air, with Kerr emerging as the clear favorite to replace Mike Woodson and coach the Knicks. A source told The Post’s George Willis he “absolutely expects’’ to get an offer, and with that offer, “he’s definitely going to take it,” the source said.
“I want him to be happy,’’ Albert told The Post. “We hate losing him. He’s been tremendous on the air. He’s a good friend and we hate to lose him — if that’s the case. It’s still up in the air. I think he’d be great in whatever he does.
“[Coaching is] what he wants to do eventually. He’s talked about it the last two years. He wants to be a head coach.’’
Woodson is the Knicks head coach and his situation won’t be resolved until next week, according to NBA sources.
One source close to Kerr said of his candidacy: “I’ll tell you right now, nothing is going on right now” as the Woodson situation plays out.
Another league source said he’d be “surprised’’ if Kerr didn’t inherit the job with Jackson serving as his coaching mentor, ready to install the much-talked-about triangle offense. Kerr won three titles with the Bulls in the 1990’s and two more with the Spurs as a 3-point shooting point guard. Former Knick Jim Cleamons, a Bucks assistant, may be a fit for Kerr’s staff, as he won nine titles with Jackson.
In between his TNT stints, Kerr spent three seasons as the Suns GM while Amar’e Stoudemire’s starred in Phoenix.
“He did very well as general manager, getting to the conference finals, but decided to come back to TV,’’ Albert said.
“He’ll do very well whatever he does. You can’t tell if he’ll be a good coach from TV commentary, except that he’s very smart, has a great way with people. He’s so respected from being with five championship teams and very instrumental because he hit huge shots.’’
“He has a great sense of humor and I need somebody like that. He’s easygoing and has got that rare combo of being up on everything, every player, every move, taking that to another level.
Albert and Kerr also have teamed to do NCAA Tournament games the past three years, and Albert is always surprised how well Kerr is received by current college players.
“They come up to him and challenge him to 3-point contests, wherever we are,’’ Albert said. “Everybody is always so enamored with Steve because of his skill.’’
An alarming statistic for the Knicks is Jackson’s former players have not fared well as head coaches. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the six head coaches who played for Jackson are a combined 186-360. None of them has a winning record.
One of those coaches is Darrell Walker, who now is Woodson’s top assistant. The others are Bill Cartwright, Brian Shaw, Larry Krystkowiak, Lindsey Hunter and Pete Myers.
But along with Shaw, Kerr’s the only one who has kept close with Jackson.
“Steve has a great relationship with Phil and [Spurs coach Gregg] Popovich and he kept the strong relationship,” Albert said. Like I said, he’s one of the great guys.’’
Some in the league were skeptical Kerr would want to live in New York after having a place in San Diego. But Albert disputed the notion.
“It’s not a factor,’’ Albert said. “He’s so adaptable. His wife loves New York. She would have not have a problem. He loves the city. He’s the type of person comfortable anywhere.’’
Albert, who had a falling out with the Knicks, called the team’s two championship seasons on the radio when Jackson was on the roster.
Asked if he was surprised Jackson would work for owner James Dolan, Albert said: “Nothing surprises me anymore. I had a feeling he wouldn’t look to coach because he had nothing more to prove. But he’s always loved New York City.’’