Carmelo Anthony said Wednesday that he has heard Phil Jackson will be “coming on board” with the New York Knicks, the strongest indication yet that the 11-time NBA champion coach will soon be taking over the team’s basketball operations.

Anthony went as far as to suggest that it’s no longer a question of if Jackson will rejoin the Knicks, but when.

“Everything’s in his hands now,” Anthony told reporters in Boston at the Knicks’ gameday shootaround practice.

Neither the Knicks nor Jackson had any immediate comment. Jackson played on the Knicks’ last championship team in 1973, and later went on to win six NBA titles as a coach with the Chicago Bulls and five more with the Los Angeles Lakers.

“I still don’t have a lot of the details, all the details,” Anthony told reporters. “Have I heard? Yeah, I’ve heard that he will be coming on board. It’s not official yet. You can always use Phil Jackson’s insight on whatever ... That goes without even saying, so we’ll see how that plays out.”

Lakers rule out Kobe

Kobe Bryant won’t be back on the court for the Lakers this season.

The Lakers said Bryant was examined Wednesday by team physician Dr. Steve Lombardo, who determined that the injury that has kept Bryant out of the lineup still hasn’t healed.  Bryant is recovering from a fractured lateral tibial plateau of his left knee.

Bryant issued a statement through the team saying that this has been a disappointing and frustrating season. “But I appreciate all the support I’ve received from the Lakers and the fans, and look forward to being back and ready for the start of training camp.”