Derek Fisher is still an NBA player, but he will have plenty of opportunities to get into coaching when he decides to retire. One of the jobs that seems to be available to him is the Knicks head coaching position.
Fisher, 39, has been named as one of Phil Jackson’s top candidates for the job now that Steve Kerr turned down the position. Fisher says he spoke with Jackson in March before Jackson’s press conference introducing him as Knicks president. He says the current talks mentioning him in connection with the Knicks job are not a distraction.
“It’s not a distraction,’’ Fisher said Monday via the NY Post. “It’s humbling. It’s humbling, it’s flattering. Phil knows better than anybody this time of year, there’s a singular focus you have to have. That’s what I’m trying to do for myself and the team. Regardless of what it is, I’m not concerned about it until after these playoffs are done.’’
Fisher also says he plans to talk with Jackson after the Thunder’s season ends. OKC is about to start the Western Conference finals with the San Antonio Spurs.
“We talk every offseason. I’m sure we’ll talk again when this season is over. But I don’t have any intention of reaching out to him. I think he respects what I’m in right now as well.”
While the media wants to create a new story/rumor/report every day about the Knicks job, it seems like the process might take some time. If Jackson really does want to consider Fisher for the position, not only does he need to wait until after OKC’s season ends, but he would probably have to give the veteran time to decide if he wants to retire. That might not happen so quickly, and neither will a Knicks hire.
