New York Knicks

6:41 AM PT -- It's official ... but Knicks owner Jimmy Dolan isn't calling it a "firing" -- he's saying both sides have "mutually agreed to part company."

Yeah, right.

"After careful thought and consideration, we mutually agreed that the Knicks will be going in a different direction," Dolan said in a statement.

"Phil Jackson is one of the most celebrated and successful individuals in the history of the NBA. His legacy in the game of basketball is unmatched. We wish him the best and thank him for his service to the Knicks as both a player and an executive."

Dolan says he will not be personally involved in the search for Phil's replacement.

Phil also put out a statement saying, "The New York Knicks will always hold a special place in my heart."

"I had hoped, of course, to bring another NBA championship to the Garden. As someone who treasures winning, I am deeply disappointed that we weren’t able to do that. New York fans deserve nothing less. I wish them and the Knicks organization all the best -- today and always."

The NY Knicks are done with Phil Jackson -- the team is expected to announce he's leaving the organization as early as Wednesday morning.

71-year-old Jackson is the President of Basketball Operations for the Knicks -- and people HATE him right now ... after another terrible season and personality clashes with Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis.

Multiple stars have called for the Knicks to fire his ass -- including Kenyon Martin and Fat Joe.

Now, it seems the Knicks are taking their advice ... with ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reporting he'll be out before the day's over.

The Zen.

Spike Lee has already weighed in ... he's happy.

Phil Jackson's too damn old to lead an NBA franchise and it's high time the Knicks kicked his geriatric ass to the curb ... so says ex-NBA baller Kenyon Martin, who just LIT UP the Zen master.

We caught up with K-Mart hangin' with BIG3 teammate Al Harrington in NYC ... and when we asked the former Knick what he thought about the state of the current team ... he went nuclear.

The takeaway?

Phil needs have his 70-something-year-old-ass reading AARP and fly fishing rather than running an NBA team.

Hey, KM's not the only famous guy blaming Phil. Right, Fat Joe?

Lamar Odom is FURIOUS at Stephen A. Smith -- and unleashed his lawyer to tear the ESPN star a new one for mocking his crack addiction on the air.

Odom's pissed at a segment from Wednesday's "First Take" -- when Smith was ripping NY Knicks president Phil Jackson for running the team into the ground and brought up the time he signed Odom.

"His very first move as executive was to sign Lamar Odom ... WHO WAS ON CRACK," Smith said on air. The clip went viral.

Now, Odom's attorney, Saam Zangeneh, has fired off a letter to ESPN saying, "Mr. Smith chose to jokingly disparage Lamar for a having a disease."

"Mr. Smith chose to shout out the fact that Lamar was sick, and to use his disease as the butt of a joke."

"To say that his conduct was outrageous and unacceptable does not scratch the surface."

"Imagine the effect this grotesque statement would have on any young athlete who is privately fighting this disease. To become the punch line of a vulgar joke."

Zangeneh continued, "We hope those at ESPN will actively voice their disdain for Mr. Smith's inappropriate statement and take the proper action to support those that are fighting this disease."

"We should hope that your network would use this situation as an opportunity to become more actively involved in this cause."

Stephen A. Smith released the following statement through ESPN:

"Because of my personal affection for Lamar Odom -- and only for that reason -- I want to return to my comments about something I've repeated quite often over the last few days: the flagrant ineptitude that I feel has been on continual display by New York Knick's President Phil Jackson.

My comments were NOT to put any more focus on Lamar Odom's much publicized drug use and addiction. He was not the target of my ire.

The sole focus of my comments were directed at the unmitigated disaster that Phil Jackson has created since he's arrived in New York. In my opinion, he simply couldn't leave soon enough.

Lamar Odom is simply one of the nicest athletes any of us have encountered, and has always been a gentlemen to everyone in NBA circles -- including me -- which is something I've repeated throughout the years.

That's why it's worth repeating: Lamar Odom was not the focus of my ire. My comments were entirely, totally, meant for Phil Jackson. Anyone who loves the NY Knicks, who've witnessed what has been transpiring over the last three years, know exactly who I was directing my comments to.

And Why!"

Fat Joe is flat-out pissed at Phil Jackson for turning his beloved New York Knicks into a dumpster fire ... and now he's legitimately worried he'll DIE before they start winning again.

We spoke with Joe Crack about the Knicks prez trying to trade star Kristaps Porzingis (among many other questionable decisions) ... and he says P.J. has no business being in the front office, 'cause he "stunk up the place."

"I hope I'm alive when we're good, it's just that f**ked up." Joe says. "The whole s**t is messed up."

If you're a NY Knick who's NOT from Latvia, pack your bags ... 'cause Shaq thinks it's time for you to go.

The NBA legend was at an American Express Teamed Up event in NYC on Tuesday when we asked about reports that Phil Jackson is taking calls about possibly dealing away Kristaps Porzingis.

"Keep Porzingis and trade everybody else around him," Shaq said.

"Try to build around him. This kid's got a great future."

We also asked Shaq how he felt about the Lakers most likely taking Lonzo Ball with the #2 pick in Thursday's NBA Draft (despite some back and forth trash talk with his dad, LaVar).

Shaq's all for it ... "He's a great player. He makes his teammates better."

Grandmama has spoken ... with Larry Johnson telling TMZ Sports he REALLY hopes his NY Knicks don't trade away Kristaps Porzingis.

The rumors are spreading like wildfire ... that Phil Jackson is taking calls from other NBA teams looking to make a deal for the Latvian wonderkid before the NBA Draft.

So, when we saw the ex-Knicks star in NYC on Tuesday, we asked him to weigh in ... and it's clear he's against moving KP.

The Knicks and KP don't seem to be on the best of terms right now ... but LJ seems to think the team is better with him than without him.

Carmelo and La La Anthony are in a limbo stage of their relationship ... but they're perfectly fine with that.

Sources close to the ex-couple tell TMZ ... neither one is in any hurry to file divorce papers because they're happy with the way things are right now. We're told they're definitely not getting back together, but are working together to be there for their 10-year-old son.

As our source puts the situation ... "Divorce isn't on the horizon."

When we last saw them together, Melo and La La were co-parenting on Mother's Day ... dinner and fro-yo style.

Carmelo Anthony is getting some heavy duty backup in his nasty feud with Phil Jackson ... an ex-Knicks head coach who says he LOVED coaching 'Melo and says he's been "great" for the franchise.

Phil's been criticizing Anthony since he was hired as the Knicks President -- and made it clear he wants to trade Melo out of NYC as soon as possible.

We got former Knicks coach Mike Woodson -- who was fired by Phil back in '14 -- and asked what he thought of the Melo/Jackson feud ... and Mike took a side.

"I love Carmelo Anthony, that's all I'm gonna say," Woodson told us ... adding, "He was great for me."

Seems clear Woodson -- now an assistant with the Clippers -- is riding with his 'Melo, and why not? The two men were 109-79 together and made the playoffs twice, something the Knicks haven't done since.

And when we say "since" ... we mean since Phil Jackson was hired.

Charles Oakley says Carmelo Anthony needs to run like hell from the Knicks this off-season ... claiming he simply deserves better.

Oakley was at the BTIG charity event in NYC on Tuesday when he told us straight up, "I think he just needs to get out of New York."

Oak says he believes Melo still has a lot left in the tank -- but it'll go to waste unless he goes to a team, like OKC, Utah or the L.A. Clippers.

"This city is just you know, so much going on with management. You know, you deserve better but you have to speak up for yourself."

Derek Fisher says Carmelo Anthony needs to be focused on family ... not basketball ... and promises he'll reach out to his former player and help him cope with the separation from his superstar wife, La La.

Derek coached Melo on the Knicks a few years back -- and when we got him out in Calabasas with his GF, Gloria Govan, we had to ask if he'd he heard the news about Melo's marriage.

Interesting question for Fisher (Govan LITERALLY sips tea when we ask) ... but he goes full-on friend, saying Anthony should tune out everything except his family. He also promises to call Melo to offer his support.

Rudy Giuliani says basketball fans shouldn't turn their backs on Carmelo Anthony in the wake of adultery allegations ... because HALF of all athletes cheat.

The ex-NYC mayor was out in L.A. when we asked how he felt about the standoff between Melo and the NY Knicks ... with Phil Jackson saying he wants Anthony off the team next year.

"He's a Knick," Rudy told us ... "Once a Knick, always a Knick."

Carmelo and La La Anthony are separated ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the couple tell us the actress and NBA superstar are now living separately. La La moved out of the family home last week and has her own place in NYC now.

We're told the couple's had ups and downs in the past, but the current NBA season has been extremely stressful on the marriage for several months. Carmelo's been plagued by trade talks ... with the Knicks looking to move him to another team.

Our sources say the split is still amicable. They were together just this past weekend at their 10-year-old son Kiyan's basketball game.

We're told La La and Carmelo have NO plans to uproot Kiyan from his friends and school in NY.

Problem is ... it seems likely Carmelo will have to leave town, because just last week Knicks President Phil Jackson said it was time for him to go.

Neither is talking divorce yet, just separation. The couple got married in 2010.

If you like seeing Carmelo Anthony in Knicks colors, turn your head ... cause Melo was out in L.A. Sunday night chatting it up at Catch with Sam Cassell, an assistant coach for the Clippers.

The Clippers are one of Melo's most talked about potential landing spots, and rumor has it that a trade between them and the Knicks almost happened at the deadline.

Add into the equation Melo's wife, LaLa, has an exploding acting career (never hurts to be in L.A.) and the Knicks seem to be souring on Anthony in favor of Porzingis and this meeting could be HUGE.

You know that furry getup Carmelo Anthony rocked to the Knicks game Tuesday night? It was custom-made ... and it was expensive!

TMZ Sports spoke with Nadeem Waheed -- owner of Daniel's Leather in New York -- who says Melo dropped $5,000 on the American sheepskin shearling with cross fox fur ... and added the $500 hat to match.

Charles Oakley might not want to return to MSG after his beef with James Dolan, but that won't keep him from watching his Knicks ... sitting courtside as New York visited the Cavs Thursday night.

Oak -- a Cleveland native -- was invited to sit next to Dan Gilbert to have an up-close look at LeBron James and the defending world champs beat up on the struggling Knicks.

Oakley was temporarily banned from the Garden after getting ejected and arrested at the February 8 Knicks game. Dolan later lifted the ban, but Oak says he's not ready to return to the arena.

The Land has continued to show support for the former NBAer ... from making t-shirts to LBJ telling reporters, "Oakley for president."

Good news for Kobe ... he'll NEVER be shunned from Staples Center like Charles Oakley was from Madison Square Garden ... that's according to Ice Cube who says a Mamba ban is simply not possible.