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Former Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson said Monday that he has not been contacted by New York Knicks president Isiah Thomas regarding the team's head coaching position, but he would listen if the call does come.

Jackson, who is taking in the Australian Open, stopped by the ESPN set at the tournament in Melbourne to do a sit-down interview with Chris Fowler. Jackson was non-commital about a comeback, but didn't rule it out, either.

Jackson had intimated before Lenny Wilkens' resignation that he would be interested in coaching the Knicks, the team for which he played in the late-1960s through much of the 1970s.

"What I did say [is that] I'd have to listen if they came and talked," Jackson told Fowler. "I'd have to listen to them, but that's not saying I'd be ready to coach."

The Knicks job opened up Saturday with the resignation of Wilkens, 67, likely ending a record-setting career that began in 1969 when he was still an All-Star guard with the Seattle SuperSonics. The Hall of Famer is both the winningest and losingest coach in NBA history, going 1,332-1,155 in 32 seasons with Seattle, Portland, Cleveland, Atlanta, Toronto and New York. He won his lone NBA title with the Sonics in 1979 and coached the United States to a gold medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Thomas turned over the club to assistant coach Herb Williams for the rest of the season.

Williams, however, has a chance to at least get paid beyond this season. The New York Post reports that Williams signed his new head-coaching contract and that includes a second year that is not fully guaranteed.

It is believed it would kick in based on whether certain incentives are reached, according to a league source. Of course, the Knicks can always eat the contract if they decide to go in a different direction.

Jackson said he has a "connection" with Thomas, as the two have discussed coaching and the nuances of the triangle offense. Jackson said Thomas sought him out at a coaches' meeting last year.

"Isiah and I have a friendship that goes back a long ways," Jackson said. "… I don't know what's going to happen in [the Knicks] situation. It's an interim situation, they say, with Lenny leaving that coaching position -- so I'm sure they're going to have a struggle during the course of the year."

Jackson, who won three straight championships with Los Angeles after winning six with Chicago, agreed with Lakers owner Jerry Buss to end his tenure as coach in June of last year.

"In my opinion Phil is the best coach in the history of the NBA and he did a phenomenal job for us these past five years, for which I am very grateful," Buss stated in a release from the team at that time. "Not only did he help lead us to three more championships, but he helped the Lakers regain our status as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, franchises in all of sports. In addition to his success on the court, Phil was also a pleasure to deal with off the court."

Buss offered Jackson another position with the organization, but Jackson elected not to accept it.

In 14 seasons as a head coach, Jackson is 832-316 for a .725 winning percentage -- best in NBA history. His 175 playoff wins are the most ever and his .717 postseason winning percentage is also tops.

Jackson's agent, Todd Musburger, said in June that while he expects to field offers for Jackson to coach in the NBA this season, he does not expect Jackson to accept any.

Phil Jackson isn't committing to a return to coaching, but he isn't ruling it out, either.

"I don't think there's a position out there that would be just right for him," Musburger said. "I suppose I should never say never … but this is a great opportunity for him to take a breather and I think he'll do it. He had a great year off after he left the Bulls" after the team's sixth NBA title in 1998.

And while he hasn't ruled out a return, Jackson -- typically -- was vague on the issue.

"I'm just sitting back and watching, myself, and seeing if I have a thirst to go back and coach," he said Monday. "And if I don't have the dedication and desire to go back and coach, I'm not going to do it. And it hasn't arisen yet.

"I don't have that urge."

Jackson is well-known for his offbeat coaching style and motivational ploys, from practicing Zen philosophy to urging his players to meditate and buying them books for long road trips.

Jackson joined the Lakers in June 1999, and coached them to their first championship in 12 years in his first season. Two more titles followed, giving Jackson nine to tie him with former Boston coach Red Auerbach for the most in NBA history.

Jackson coached the Michael Jordan-led Bulls to championships in 1992-94 and 1996-98. Jackson then took a year off before becoming coach of the Lakers. His teams in Chicago and Los Angeles had a 9-0 record in the NBA Finals before 2004.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.