Durant: Derek Fisher Would Be A Great Hire For The Knicks
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Derek Fisher has a lot on his mind right now.
Currently playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder, the 18-year veteran is trying to win the sixth NBA championship of his career. His team currently trails the Spurs, 1-0, in the Western Conference finals.
Oh, and despite not even being retired yet, he's a candidate to be the next head coach of the Knicks.
President Phil Jackson is very interested in hiring Fisher, but the 39-year-old doesn't plan to discuss the position until his season wraps up. That means the two might not start talking until late June if the Thunder play deep into the NBA Finals.
Kevin Durant, Fisher's teammate and the star of Oklahoma City, believes that the longtime NBA point guard would be a terrific hire for the Knicks.
"Without a doubt," the reigning scoring champion told the New York Post. "He's a smart guy, smart mind. He's a great motivator, great speaker and can really relate to a lot of guys and demands that respect from everybody. He's a great locker-room guy. I'm sure he'll do a great job."
It remains to be seen how seriously Fisher will consider taking the job.
"We touched base right before his official press conference when he accepted the job," Fisher told reporters earlier this week in regard to Jackson. "Since then we haven't spoken. Obviously he's busy trying to make the changes he needs to make there. I have a day job as well. I think he respects that more than anybody; he taught me a lot about how to operate at this time of year.
"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."
Fisher played for Jackson with the Lakers from 1999-2004 and again from 2007-2011. He won five titles with Jackson.
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