NBA roundup: Jackson returns to Knicks

The New York Knicks officially named Phil Jackson, who has 13 NBA championship rings, as president of the team and control of the front office on Tuesday.

The news first broke more than a week ago when it was reported that the Knicks wanted Jackson to help bring the franchise back to its championship days and would pay him $12 million per year. Jackson said his contract is for five years.

Jackson will be in charge of the Knicks’ basketball operations. General manager Steve Mills will continue to have a significant role in the team’s front office.

“I started my career as a Knick and know what it feels like to win in this great city,” Jackson said. “I take the task of helping to deliver a winning team to our fans seriously, and look forward to combining my vision of the game with Steve Mills’ abilities as a general manager.”

—Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving hopes his season is not over. fter it was announced Monday that the All-Star will miss at least two weeks and eight games with a strained biceps tendon, Irving is encouraged that the injury will not require surgery.

“If you could take a positive from the situation, obviously that would be one, that at this point, I don’t have to get surgery, which is tremendous,” Irving said at the shootaround before the Cavaliers’ game against the Miami Heat on Tuesday night. “We’ll see in two weeks.”

Irving leads the Cavaliers with 21.2 points and 6.2 assists per game.

—The Washington Wizards signed forward Drew Gooden for the remainder of the season, the team announced Tuesday.

Gooden, who signed consecutive 10-day contracts with the team on Feb. 26 and March 8, averages 8.1 points and 4.6 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game in eight games with the Wizards.

—The Sacramento Kings signed forward Royce White to a second 10-day contract, the team announced Tuesday.

White, signed to a 10-day contract on March 6, had reported to the NBA Development League and averaged 8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.50 steals and 24.8 minutes in starting starts.

—The Golden State Warriors called up guard Nemanja Nedovic and center Ognjen Kuzmic from the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League on Tuesday.

Nedovic averaged 18.3 points, 3.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals in three games after he was sent from Golden State to Santa Cruz on March 12. Kuzmic was farmed out to Santa Cruz on Feb. 21 and in 12 games averaged 8.0 points, 13.1 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.1 steals.