Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks have had to change their focus ever since Steve Kerr surprised everyone by taking the Golden State Warriors head coaching position.
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Many people believe that Derek Fisher could now be at the top of Jackson’s list for the Knicks’ head coaching position. At the least, he is one of a number of former Lakers reportedly being considered for the job.
Fisher, of course, is still playing right now as the Oklahoma City Thunder prepare for the Western Conference Finals, but he already has some support for the Knicks job from his current head coach. Thunder coach Scott Brooks endorsed Fisher heavily according to the NY Times’ Frank Isola:
Derek will make a great head coach,” Brooks told the Daily News on Saturday. “He’s smart, he knows the game and works hard. He’s also played for one of the greatest coaches in sports history . . . and I’m not talking about myself, by the way.
Most people close to the situation believe that Jackson will hire someone who he is familiar with his style — someone who he has either coached or worked with. Fisher fits that profile, but Brooks did admit that Jackson will need to wait a few weeks to meet with his former point guard:
I think it would make a lot of sense for Derek to coach in New York. But there’s no rush. If they wait a few more weeks they can talk to him. I don’t think Phil would talk to him now anyway because Phil has too much respect for the game and Derek. He knows how hard it is to accomplish what we’re trying to do here. But I hope they do speak at some point.
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Fisher of course has also been linked to the Lakers head coaching position, and they would have to wait to contact Fisher as well. It seems like the Lakers and Knicks could be battling over another potential coach.
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