PORTLAND, Ore. — Phil Jackson stayed in Los Angeles after the Knicks departed, didn’t join them here Thursday and won’t in San Antonio on Saturday either.

The Knicks president didn’t attend the NCAA Tournament either.

According to the Orange County Register, Jackson will attend the unveiling of the Shaquille O’Neal statue in front of the Staples Center on Friday and won’t be at the Garden for the Eastern Regional or in Memphis for the big Kentucky-UCLA showdown.

Knicks general manager Steve Mills has been with the club in Utah and Portland, but is leaving for Memphis on Friday to attend the regional semifinal between UCLA and Kentucky that features top collegiate guards Lonzo Ball, Malik Monk and De’Aaron Fox.

Shaq came to Jackson’s defense Monday, saying the triangle works if the ball is moved and Knicks players become less “stubborn.”