Rick Pitino can be scratched off the list of candidates for the New York Knicks ' coaching vacancy. The St. John's men's basketball coach was asked if he would make his return to the NBA on Wednesday during a broadcast of the New York Yankees' game against the Cleveland Guardians.

Pitino, donning a Yankees jersey, gave an emphatic response.

"Absolutely not," Pitino said. "I think whoever comes in, if he doesn't get to the Finals, it's going to be deemed an unsuccessful season. So, whoever comes in has got so much pressure on them to take this team to the next level cause that's why they're doing it, obviously, in their minds."

A native of New York City, the 72-year-old Pitino is no stranger to the Knicks. He was an assistant coach in New York from 1983-85 and led the Knicks from

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