Pat Riley hired a lawyer the day he resigned as coach of the New York Knicks to handle a potential breach of contract suit, The New York Times reported Tuesday.
The newspaper said Riley, who resigned June 15 before leaving for Greece, is believed to be represented by Stanley Arkin of the New York firm of Arkin, Schaffer and Supino.
Riley is attempting to invalidate the fifth and final year of his contract to free himself to coach next season.
“I do think he’s got a lawyer looking into that,” said Madison Square Garden President Dave Checkets. “He’s exploring it, and I think it will intensify when he gets back.”
Checkets said he has not been contacted by Riley’s lawyer. He denied Riley’s contract had been breached and said he would fight to prevent him from coaching next season.
Riley said when he resigned that he wanted “ultimate responsibility” for trades and other moves.
