Donnie Walsh is not talking about the next stop, but he’s already received a number of compliments from those who benefitted from his tenure.

Consider them job references.

“He’s the best in the business,” Nets television analyst Mark Jackson said. “I played 17 years and two guys really stand out in my mind,, Dave Checketts and Donnie Walsh. (They) were far and away the absolute two best I’ve ever been around. Donnie is a great basketball mind. He knows what he’s doing. He’s a guy that understands the game and most importantly, he’s a quality, quality man.”

“Donnie was a good, straight up dude,” Fred Jones said. “He’s a good guy. He’s in a position of power in this league and you respect those guys.”

“He’s had a great career,” Knicks coach Isiah Thomas said. “He’s one of the best who’s ever done it. I wish him great success. He’s someone that I respect tremendously. He gave me my first coaching job and I truly do like him as a persons. He’s done a lot for the game.”

Jackson indicated he’s not been contacted by the Knicks about taking a job on the sidelines or in the front office.

“It’s all speculation,” he said. “There’s no job here. I have a job to do and I’m doing it tonight calling Nets games, and on the weekend with Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy and I’m having a blast.”

Jackson admitted he’s always had ambitions to be a player, announcer, coach or general manager. Hint. Hint.

A few minutes earlier, Thomas bristled when asked whether there’s reason to believe Walsh is going to end up in New York.

“I don’t have an answer to your inappropriate question,” he said. “I don’t comment on my job status, and I’m sure not going to comment on anything Donnie chooses to do or not do.”