Given the chance to do what has come naturally and poke fun at Jim Dolan’s decision to give Phil Jackson $60 million to run the one team he loves to beat more than any other, Mikhail Prokhorov bit his tongue and then let out a big, hearty laugh.
Only the Nets’ billionaire owner, who once tried to hire Jackson to coach his team, knows if he was laughing at the Knicks’ owner, or if he was just giddy at the thought that his Nets team would soon be taking the Barclays Center floor against an Oklahoma City team missing superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
“I think Phil is great,’’ Prokhorov told me before his team easily handled the Thunder. “But I also like to compete. I’m not afraid of any competition. But I am quite happy with what I have here. Quite, quite happy.’’
What about competing against the Knicks, now with Jackson calling the shots?
“I don’t care about others,’’ he said.
Don’t believe it. Prokhorov still cares, very deeply, about the Knicks and driving Dolan absolutely crazy. When he became owner, he had that monster billboard put up directly across from the Garden, showing him and Jay Z and their war cry, “Blueprint for Greatness.’’
The sight of the new owner and his celebrity partner sent Dolan through the Garden’s famous ceiling. It also started Prokhorov’s rivalry with his counterpart, the person he has famously called “The little man.’’
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Now Prokhorov is in direct competition against the big man, Jackson, the legendary coach he tried to hire in 2013 before going for a back-page splash by turning to the franchise icon/traitor-in-waiting, Jason Kidd.
It makes the rivalry even more intense, as both teams could be vying for Durant, whose free agency in two summers is already a major part of the NBA rumor-mill. Friendly reminder: Durant is represented by Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports.
By hiring Jackson, Dolan managed to do what Prokhorov could not. But the Nets were only interested bringing on the Zen Master to coach. Looking for an executive gig, Jackson turned them down, while admitting, “The Brooklyn situation is a good situation.’’
So long as Prokhorov remains the owner and is willing to spend like no one else, it is better than good. Then again, Dolan has never been shy about overpaying for players and executives, as exhibited by Jackson’s record-setting deal. Whether the old Knicks reserve can actually build the same kind of powerhouse teams he coached in Chicago and Los Angeles is very much open to debate.
If Prokhorov has any thoughts on the issue, he’s keeping them secret. After his first press conference in Brooklyn in 17 months he would only say, “I think with Phil there this is good for the fans of New York, no?’’
Beyond that, Prokhorov didn’t want to get into the Knicks, Friday’s opponent in Brooklyn. Maybe like the rest of us, he’s also worn out from all the triangle talk.
But it’s also a little more difficult for the Prokhorov to continue to lob stones across the East River when his own house has not been in order. Just two recent examples: The messy Kidd divorce and the puzzling decision to allow Paul Pierce to walk over a measly (for Prokhorov) $20 million.
If Prokhorov spared Dolan his needle, he certainly didn’t when asked about Kidd’s botched power play and forced departure to Milwaukee after angling for GM Billy King’s job.
“There is a nice English proverb: Don’t the let door hit you, where the good Lord can split you,’’ he said.
Later he stated, “We shouldn’t get mad. I think we should get even and we’ll see it on the court.’’
Kidd will slink back into town with his new team on Nov. 19. As he oversees a monster rebuilding campaign in Milwaukee, Prokhorov is still trying to sell everyone on the idea that the Nets are still competing for an NBA title. It’s a tough sell, with Cleveland and Chicago light years ahead of everyone else in the East, and especially after Pierce, a key piece of last year’s team, left for Washington.
In case you think he’s sweating the reported loss of $140 million last season, Prokhorov casually reminded everyone that when it comes to deep pockets, not even the Clippers’ new owner Steve Ballmer, who plunked down $2 billion for L.A.’s second team, is in his league.
“It’s not a big deal,’’ he said, “Since I personally compensate this money from my pocket.’’
So he’s not looking to sell, although he doesn’t mind listening to offers, with one iron-clad proviso: “I will not give up control of the team.’’
He’s also not given up on the idea of staying single. You may remember, when he took over the Nets, he vowed to win an NBA title by this June. The price if he didn’t was leaving his swinging bachelorhood days behind and taking a walk down the aisle.
“I haven’t started my research for the new wife,’’ he said, drawing more laughter. “I stay committed to the championship. By the way, we lost George Clooney. I think it’s enough for this year.’’
Longtime New York columnist Mitch Lawrence continues to write about pro basketball, as he’s done for the last 21 years. His columns for NBCNewYork.com on the Knicks, Nets and the NBA, along with other major sports, will appear twice weekly. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch _ Lawrence.
