Walt Frazier was shocked when Knicks parted ways with Jackson

The New York Knicks decided to go in a different direction in late June, parting ways with president and iconic New York figure Phil Jackson, which shocked some - including Hall of Famer Walt "Clyde" Frazier.

"I was shocked when they released him. He gave me an opportunity to go to the draft representing the Knicks," the broadcaster told ESPN's Ian Begley this week. "I was hoping I could bring them some luck and we could do better than the eighth pick. But I was telling the kids that I was the first-round draft choice in 1967 and Phil was second round. He was my roommate, we were very close. So I was very disappointed that it didn’t work out for him."

When Jackson rejoined the Knicks as president in 2014, he brought a record 11 championships as coach of the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers to a team that was struggling mightily to reclaim its 1970s grandeur.

But things didn't go quite as planned, as the president feuded with key players and mismanaged his delivery of team messages.

"I think the main lack of success with Phil was lack of communication - with the players, with the fans," Frazier continued. "When things ran amok, he never really told the fans, 'I'm happy (or) I'm disappointed.' He never said anything. So from that perspective, I was kind of disappointed that he didn't relate to the people."

Young forward Kristaps Porzingis reportedly felt frustrated by Jackson's lack of vision, including talks that he may trade Carmelo Anthony. Porzingis went so far as to skip his exit interview at the end of the season after the Knicks missed the playoffs.

"New York fans, they want to know. They're the most knowledgeable fans. You've got to communicate. And even with the players, like what happened with KP. When he went AWOL, I thought Phil should have fined him right away, man. Show some discipline. He didn't even talk to the guy for a while and obviously it got worse from there."