NEW YORK: Donnie Walsh was named president of the New York Knicks on Wednesday and immediately pledged to take the struggling franchise back into the NBA's elite.

The announcement added to speculation over the future of coach Isiah Thomas, who has faced intense criticism for his running of a club that has posted seven consecutive losing seasons.

The Knicks are bottom of the Atlantic division and second from bottom in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 20-54.

Asked about Thomas, Walsh told a packed news conference at Madison Square Garden: "I have to sit down and talk to him. I'm not putting any timetable on this.

"I'm going to sit down with Isiah and we will have a very meaningful conversation about the franchise and how we are where we are and what's the best answer out of this."

A native New Yorker, Walsh brings a winning track record to the Knicks having built the Indiana Pacers into a championship contender.

Walsh began with the Pacers as an assistant and moved into the general manager position in 1986 before later taking over as team president in 1988.

During his tenure, the Pacers reached the playoffs 17 times, the Eastern Conference finals six times and the NBA Finals in 2000, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Looking to his new job, the 67-year-old said: "It was attractive to me because I want to see this franchise become a great franchise.

"It's important to the league, it's important for New York and because I'm from New York, once I got the chance to go back and do something about it I really wanted to take the challenge on.

"We haven't had good teams in a long time.

"I think there are some good players here so I have to look at it and see how do we make this a competitive team. A team that can get to the playoffs to begin with.

"It's going to take a lot of work. I don't want anyone to be fooled. There's no magic wand here."

Walsh's hiring was hailed as a move forward by the NBA, keen to see a flagship franchise restored to past glory.

"I am pleased for both the Knicks and Donnie Walsh," said NBA commissioner David Stern in a statement.

"In Donnie, the Knicks have secured the services of a seasoned basketball professional who is held in high regard throughout the league and to whom I have often turned for input on basketball matters over the years.

"Donnie, in turn, is joining one of our storied franchises, whose team and arena are rich in NBA tradition, and he gets to return to his hometown and a metropolitan area that many of his family members call home."

Agencies

(China Daily 04/04/2008 page22)