Sandiford-Artest wants to coach Knicks: 'I've been preparing for this'

Former NBA star Metta Sandiford-Artest thinks he's the right person to replace Tom Thibodeau as head coach of the New York Knicks.

The 45-year-old New York native, who played for the Knicks from 2013-14, told TMZ Sports on Tuesday that he's serious about coaching his former team and has already "sent messages everywhere" expressing interest in the job.

"I would love the opportunity just to coach," Sandiford-Artest said. "I'm not interested in nothing else. I've been preparing for this."

The Knicks announced Tuesday that they were parting ways with Thibodeau, just three days after they were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. It was the Knicks' first conference finals appearance in 25 years.

Sandiford-Artest has never coached at the NBA level, but he did work as a player development coach for the Los Angeles Lakers' G League team, the South Bay Lakers, during the 2017-18 season.

"You can look at the accolades, and you can look at someone that's been preparing," Sandiford-Artest said while making his pitch for the Knicks' head coaching job. "Not just waiting and sitting there. You're talking about someone who's been putting in the work."

Sandiford-Artest played 17 NBA seasons, winning a championship as a member of the Lakers in 2010. He retired in 2017.