Report: Wilkens resigns from Knicks

NEW YORK -- Lenny Wilkens resigned last night as Knicks coach and will be replaced by assistant coach Herb Williams, according to a league source.

The stunning development came just hours after Scott Padgett's jumper at the buzzer gave the Houston Rockets a 92-91 victory over the Knicks at the Garden. Within minutes there were rumors flying around the arena that Knicks president Isiah Thomas had fired Wilkens, the legendary coach Thomas hired last Jan. 15.

However, a team source denied that Wilkens had been fired and would only say that Wilkens was contemplating resigning.

"Lenny is doing some thinking right now," said Thomas, who met with his coach for two hours after the loss. "We'll see where he's at in the morning."

Asked if Wilkens was considering stepping down, Thomas said: "That I don't know. This is a tough situation."

It is out of character for Wilkens to resign, considering that in his previous 31 years of coaching he never had stepped down or been fired during a season. The Knicks, who have lost five straight games and nine of 10, are 17-22.

There is a possibility that Wilkens, 67, grew tired of the constant speculation about his job security. Or this could be a case of the Knicks wanting it to look as if Wilkens resigned rather than say he was fired. Thomas, after all, was responsible for hiring Wilkens just over a year ago. After the second game of this season, Wilkens' longtime coaching aide Dick Helm was fired. The Knicks, however, called it a resignation.

Wilkens finishes 40-41.

The hiring of Williams will increase speculation that the Knicks will take a run at Phil Jackson, the former Bulls' and Lakers' coach. Jackson, a onetime Knick player, has said several times he would be interested in coaching the team. Detroit Pistons coach Larry Brown is another possibility.