The Ball Is Now in Riley’s Court: Knicks Want Him as Their Coach

Pat Riley, who led the Lakers to four NBA championships in nine years, is the New York Knicks’ choice to be their head coach, team president Dave Checketts said Wednesday.

“We are going to offer him the job,” Checketts said. “There is no time frame. We are going to give him a reasonable amount of time to make his decision.”

Checketts reportedly will offer Riley a five-year contract for $5 million. However, Riley makes more than $1 million per year from his job as an NBA analyst with NBC-TV and other ventures, and reportedly wants $1.5 million per year from the Knicks.

Riley, who has a four-year contract with NBC, was not available for comment Wednesday, but has openly pursued the job.

Riley also wants significant input with the Knicks, and Checketts has said he will give that to him.

Riley was one of four candidates for the Knicks’ coaching vacancy created when John MacLeod resigned this month. The other three were Knick assistant Paul Silas, former Chicago Bull coach Doug Collins and Texas Coach Tom Penders.

The Knicks have had five coaches the past six years.