The New York Knicks provided their fan base with a ton of optimism early in the season, with Kristaps Porzingis flashing his considerable upside and the team playing quality basketball in an overall sense.
Since then, though, the Knicks have dropped 11 of 14 games and, this week, a report appeared that placed head coach Jeff Hornacek’s job security in apparent danger with an eye toward Mark Jackson as a potential replacement.
Hornacek was asked about his job status on Friday and he told Al Iannazzone of Newsday that he “isn’t worried” about his own job, explaining that he’s had what were described as private conservations with Knicks president Steve Mills about his own place in the Knicks organization and said everyone’s still “on the same page.”
“Scott and Steve, everybody’s still on the same page of trying to get our young guys opportunities,” Hornacek said on Friday. “We’re still trying to win games. We still want to establish an identity where defensively we’re going to get after it all the time and we’re building toward that. It’s great to have their support.”
Of course, it isn’t a surprise to see Hornacek downplay the original reporting and it would have been much more jarring to see him lean into the notion that he were in trouble. And it still would be inaccurate to suggest that Hornacek and his team are underachieving based on preseason expectations. A midseason downturn shouldn’t necessarily be enough to cost him employment when taking all factors into account.
Hornacek may not survive the season in New York and Mark Jackson might be a candidate to replace him. For now, though, he may not be in grave danger and honestly that seems more reasonable than the initial report.
