With Steve Kerr now officially out of the running after becoming the new head coach of the Golden State Warriors, Derek Fisher has become the frontrunner for the New York Knicks.
Although Fisher is still competing for a sixth ring with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Fisher’s name has surfaced as a candidate for Phil Jackson in New York. Fisher has no coaching experience and will be a risky choice for Jackson, but he’s definitely receiving serious consideration to take over for Mike Woodson.
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Once the season comes to an end for the Thunder, Fisher will consider a future as an NBA head coach, but for the time being, he’s not thinking about the opportunity in New York, according to Sam Amick of USA Today:
“I literally have not given any thought,” Fisher told USA TODAY Sports when asked specifically whether he wants to be a coach. “I’ve kept all my options open for years for that reason. I’ve been asked for more than a decade what I’m doing next.
“(But) I think you have to want to do anything you decide to do that requires the type of time and effort that coaching requires. You go through your process at the appropriate time, and then you decide from there.”
The Thunder will attempt to steal Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Monday with Fisher and company visiting San Antonio. Thunder are considered the underdogs heading into this series with the defending Western Conference champions.
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Fisher has let it be known that he intends to retire after this season and seems to have a future in coaching if he’s up for the challenge. The Knicks potentially won’t be the only team interested in his services as a coach with the Los Angeles Lakers also rumored to reach out this summer.
Other notable candidates for the Knicks are Kurt Rambis, Fred Hoiberg, Tyronn Lue, Mike Dunleavy Sr. and Mark Jackson.
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