In the last few weeks, grumblings have grown louder and louder about the possibilities of long-time UK basketball assistant coach taking the same position at the New York Knicks.

A little bit after Jeff Goodman of Stadium reported that Payne was contemplating taking the Knicks job, he spoke with the Herald-Leader’s Jerry Tipton to discuss the process of making a final decision.

“All I can say is it’s not an easy decision,” he said. “And, hopefully, it gets resolved one way or the other here soon.”

Payne then provided some optimism for UK fans by talking about how good the Kentucky basketball job is:

“But I have a great job for a lot of different reasons. And all I can tell you is that I’ve been blessed to be able to be in a position to help a lot of people. It’s more than just basketball with me when you’re in a position to help families.”

The UK assistant coach’s son Zan Payne currently is on the roster for the Cats with two more years of eligibility to play, so that could work in Kentucky’s favor. It is not a surprise to see Payne as a viable candidate for such a position in New York, however, as he can be a great recruiter for upcoming free agents like Devin Booker and Karl Anthony-Towns.