Knicks’ Jackson meets with Woodson, players

One day after being named president of the New York Knicks, Phil Jackson met with head coach Mike Woodson, addressed the players later in the afternoon and then received a standing ovation from the Madison Square Garden crowd during Wednesday night’s game against the Indiana Pacers.

Woodson confirmed before the game that he and Jackson spoke at the team’s practice facility in Greenburgh, N.Y.

“We spoke a little bit today,” Woodson said. “Came in and introduced himself to the coaches and we chatted a little bit.”

Jackson met with the team at Madison Square Garden, introducing himself to the players briefly, according to ESPN.com.

“He was just excited about joining,” star forward Carmelo Anthony said. “He came in and … said how excited he was about this opportunity and told us to focus on the game.”

Anthony also said he’s “on the same page” with Jackson. At his introductory press conference on Tuesday, Jackson said that there was room for Anthony to improve his game and that he is in the team’s future plans.

“I love it. I don’t think that was anything bad that he said,” Anthony said. “As an individual over the years, I think I’ve gotten better as a player, playing at a very high level as an individual. Like right now. For him to come in and say that, we’re on the same page. There’s a whole other level that I haven’t taken this to. I feel each season I’ve gotten better so just as Phil can teach, I can rely on him, talk to him, use him as a mentor to try and get to that next level.”