Isiah Thomas was hired this year to run the New York Liberty of the WNBA, which has led some to believe he could eventually return to the New York Knicks.

Phil Jackson was asked if he has spoken to Thomas since his return to Madison Square Garden.

"Yeah, Isiah came in my office. I was on the phone, but I was able to shake his hand. And there have been a number of times when we’ve just bumped into each other here in the cafeteria. We talked about the playoffs, about his team. He seems to be happy doing his job, and that’s about it."

Jackson was asked if he was consulted by Jim Dolan before the hire of Thomas.

"Jim Dolan had talked to us about it over dinner, maybe a month before it happened. We said, “Are you cognizant of the fact that this at least has the look of putting the fox in the henhouse?” Is that a good term? In reviewing the history of it, we were told what the approach was by the Garden and how it went down. Jim said, “If you have any suggestions that you want to come back with, I’m open.” And not being in that field, I didn’t have any information. It’s not where my head is at. So we’re not giving them any advice, and it’s going both ways."