Knicks President Phil Jackson Wanted The Entire Team To Focus On The New Season

By Menahem Zen - 28 Sep '16 23:36PM

Knicks president Phil Jackson said Derrick Rose and the entire New York Knicks team and organization need to focus on the game instead of the $21.5 million rape lawsuit involving Rose. Jackson also acknowledged that Rose is not concerned with the issue either.

Speaking to the press in the pre-season press conference Jackson declared that he urged Rose and New York Knicks to focus their attention on the upcoming season. He did not want the $21.5 million lawsuit to disrupt the entire team.

"We want to put this to rest. There doesn't need to be a lot of talk about this," Jackson said as quoted by New York Daily News. "Concerns about how our team is going to fit together are some of the biggest priorities for us."

Meanwhile Jackson also admited that Rose is not concerned with the case at all according to New York Post. Rose was accused to gang rape his ex-girlfiriend after breaking into her Los Angeles house with two of his friends in 2013. He denied the allegation, but his former girlfriend filed a formal deposition to court last month.

The case is is scheduled to go to trial before the US District Judge of California Michael Fitzgerald on Oct. 4 in Los Angeles, the same day as Knicks' pre-season opening game against Houston Rockets in Toyota Center, Hoston.

As the news of gangrape case breaks out a month before the new NBA season starts, Phil Jackson emphasized that he wanted no further comment as ESPN reported. He did not reply the question addressed to him and general manager Steve Mills about the team's dilligence in vetting the point guard's legal issue,

New York Knicks have made a tremendous amount of adjustment to its roster by acquiring many potential player. Its front court is now packed with Carmelo Anthony, Joakim Noah and the 7'3" forward and center from Latvia Kristaps Porzingis. With Derrick Rose in the back court, the Knicks expect the team to be fully complete.

Watch the full video of NBA Media Day press conference of New York Knicks on Sept. 23 below: