Knicks' Phil Jackson says he has 'divorced himself' from Lakers

New York Knicks president Phil Jackson said he's 'divorced himself' from the Los Angeles Lakers.

New York Knicks president Phil Jackson said he's 'divorced himself' from the Los Angeles Lakers.

“It’s been four years [since I was there], so I’ve kind of just divorced myself from them," Jackson said in an interview with the New York Post. Jackson had not spoken publicly at a press conference since Jan. 10 when the Eastern Conference's worst team announced it would trade guard J.R. Smith. 

Jackson also noted the Lakers are "competing harder now," despite the loss of star Kobe Bryant, and said he expected a good game between the Knicks (9-38) and the Lakers (13-34), who have the second- and fourth-worst records in the NBA, respectively. 

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Jackson retired from coaching in 2011 after 11 NBA championships and nearly 2,000 career coaching wins. 

The Lakers play the Knicks at Madison Square Garden at 2:00 pm EST on Sunday. 

- Will Green