Derek Fisher Officially Accepts Offer to Coach New York Knicks; Contract Reportedly 5 Years, Worth $25M
ByThe lights may be a little bit brighter in New York than in Oklahoma City, but Derek Fisher played in Los Angeles for a coach who demanded nothing short of excellence.
According to ESPN, Fisher officially accepted Phil Jackson's offer to be the next head coach of the New York Knicks. Jackson, former coach of the L.A. Lakers, pursued his former point guard once rumors of Fisher's retirement began to swirl.
Fisher won five NBA championships with Jackson, who was recently hired to be the Knicks' president. Now, the two hope they can end the team's 41-year championship drought.
CLICK HERE to watch the introduction.
"I am experienced," Fisher said at Tuesday's announcement. "Basketball is a game that I am experienced in playing, understanding, leading in, guiding in, helping another group of people achieve the greatest gift in the world as a professional athlete, and that's being a champion."
Jackson reportedly had interest in hiring Fisher as the Knicks head coach before the Oklahoma City Thunder finished their season. He was fined $25,000 for "tampering" when Jackson mentioned before the end of the season the team would pursue hiring Fisher.
Once the Thunder were eliminated from the playoffs, the pursuit was on and several unnamed sources pegged New York as the most likely landing spot for Fisher.
"That I have experience in, and that's the experience that I plan on sharing with these players, sharing with this organization," Fisher said.
Though the Knicks did not disclose the terms of Fisher's contract, sources told Yahoo Sports Monday it will last five years and pay the former guard $25 million.
"That's why I'm here," Fisher said. "That's why I took advantage of this opportunity, to be a part of that process... We know without a doubt that we can re-establish what that means, what that is."
Like Fisher, Jason Kidd went straight from retiring as a player to becoming a coach, when the Brooklyn Nets hired him last year. Like Kidd, Fisher has gained universal respect around the NBA, but will reportedly be groomed early on under Jackson's supervision.