Phil Jackson: Carmelo 'has every chance to be the MJ and Kobe of our offense'

New York Knicks team president Phil Jackson has every faith that Carmelo Anthony can play a similar role to what Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan did for the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls, respectively.

"Melo is a leader by example, not by exhorting his teammates," Jackson said to ESPN's Charley Rosen. "He's also very into the triangle, and with a better supporting cast he has every chance to be the MJ and Kobe of our offense."

The Knicks finished with their worst winning percentage in franchise history during the 2014-15 campaign, ending the year with a 17-65 record (.207). The absence of Anthony for the better part of the season played a huge part in New York's collapse, with the eight-time All-Star only suiting up for 40 games due to a knee injury which ultimately required surgery.

The burden on Anthony's shoulders to carry the lowly Knicks to yearly postseason berths has been astronomical, with Jackson failing to put the right talent around the former scoring champion. Anthony was "skeptical" about Jackson's slow rebuilding plan, as he was not updated on any plans the "Zen Master" had in store, New York Daily News' Frank Isola reported in July.

The roster has undergone a drastic transformation from last year's iteration, with new faces in Robin Lopez, Arron Afflalo, Kyle O'Quinn, Derrick Williams, Sasha Vujacic, Kevin Seraphin, and rookies Kristaps Porzingis and Jerian Grant entering the fray.

With a new crop of teammates by his side and a more optimistic outlook, the pressure will be magnified even more for Anthony - who is working under a five-year, $124-million contract - to deliver the goods next season. Winning was something Bryant and Jordan were known for throughout their careers, which Anthony has yet to prove on a consistent basis, at least under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.

If it's just about being the focal point of the offense, the 31-year-old already has that in the bag, averaging 25.2 points and 19.7 shot attempts for his career.