Knicks News: Kenny Smith Confirms Interview, Says NY Is 'Vetting That Process'

TNT analyst Kenny Smith confirmed to SiriusXM NBA radio that he interviewed for the New York Knicks' vacant head-coaching position and said the club is currently "vetting that process." 

"I did meet with the Knicks and it was a lot of fun," Smith said Tuesday, according to the New York Daily News' Stefan Bondy. "We'll see. They're still vetting that process. "So I'm just sitting back, and in terms of basketball I know I'm ready because of the 18 years of what went on. That's it. Eighteen years in this game and having relationships and general managers calling you for your opinion off the record and all those kind of things prepare you for these moments."

Smith added that nearly two decades of experience as a member of the Inside the NBA panel could allow him to successfully navigate the pressures that accompany the job. 

"The 18 years that I've been on TNT has prepared me for a lot of things, and coaching being one of them," he said. The preparation and the reservoir of information, relationships to players to everything. Players to coaches to assistant coaches — everything. From being in college basketball to the Final 4, AAU teams. Every element I've covered has kind of prepared me for more direction."

Smith, who has no formal coaching experience, spent 10 seasons in the NBA after the Sacramento Kings selected him sixth overall in the 1987 draft. He owns two rings following championship runs with the Houston Rockets in 1994 and 1995. 

According to Newsday's Al Iannazzone, the Knicks have already talked to Smith, Mark Jackson, Jerry Stackhouse, Mike Woodson, Mike Budenholzer and David Fizdale about the position. 

ESPN.com's Adrian Wojnarowski and Ian Begley added that Knicks brass will travel to Europe to interview former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach David Blatt this week and also plan to sit down with San Antonio Spurs assistant James Borrego.