Assistant coach of the National Basketball Association defending champions Golden State Warriors Luke Walton has told New York Knicks president Phil Jackson that he is not interested in taking up the team's head coaching job at the moment, according to the New York Daily News.

This news comes on the same day as a report claiming that eleven-time NBA champion coach Jackson had contacted the 36-year-old Walton to ascertain his interest in the vacant position. The Knicks are assessing candidates, including the team's interim Kurt Rambis, who took over following Derek Fisher's termination from the job on February 8.

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Walton, who had his first coaching experience with the University of Memphis Tigers as an assistant coach during the 2011 NBA lockout, used to play under Jackson for eight seasons during the 1996 NBA Coach of the Year's reign with the Los Angeles Lakers as the team's head coach.

"People I probably know will be in the interview process," Jackson said on Thursday, according to ESPN. "I will reach out to make connections to some people."

Walton's name became a very hot commodity in the coaches-in-waiting market after taking over as the Warriors' interim coach when Steve Kerr, the official listed head coach of the Golden State, took leave of absence due to a back surgery. Walton guided the Warriors to a remarkable 39-4 record, the league's second best start of the season.

The former Lakers forward was named NBA Western Conference Coach of the Month for games played in October and November last year. He led the Warriors to a 24 consecutive victories and even contended to break the long standing winning streak record of the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers.

The Knicks have a .349 winning percentage the past three years and have posted only four seasons over .500 since 2000. The Carmelo Anthony-led team failed to make it to the playoffs and finished with a 32-50 record.

TagsNBA 2016, Golden State Warriors, Steve Kerr, Phil Jackson, new york knicks, Los Angeles Lakers