After a season and a half full of question marks, the New York Knicks announced on Monday that they have fired head coach Derek Fisher. The move came in the midst of a five-game losing streak, and the team had dropped nine of their past ten.
New York struggled in Fisher's first season with the team, finishing the season 17-65. This season had not gotten off to any better of a start, as the team was 23-31 under the former Laker.
Kurt Rambis will take over on an interim basis, after team president Phil Jackson made the mistake of hiring Fisher too soon after his retirement. The team pointed to the timing of the move as to why the team was not responding well to the former NBA champion.
Fisher was coached by Jackson in Los Angeles, where the tandem won five titles, so the connection has always been there. Jackson does believe Fisher was and is ready to be a coach, crediting his former point guard for instilling mental toughness into the team.
Mike Woodson was the previous coach of the Knicks, but was replaced after going 109-79 in three seasons with the franchise. His replacement, Fisher, thanked the team for the early opportunity at his first head coaching gig.
Many believe this is a relief for Fisher as it was a mistake on both sides to agree to the deal. They both decided now is the right time to move on before this mistake turns into a lingering issue.
New York struggled in Fisher's first season with the team, finishing the season 17-65. This season had not gotten off to any better of a start, as the team was 23-31 under the former Laker.
Kurt Rambis will take over on an interim basis, after team president Phil Jackson made the mistake of hiring Fisher too soon after his retirement. The team pointed to the timing of the move as to why the team was not responding well to the former NBA champion.
Fisher was coached by Jackson in Los Angeles, where the tandem won five titles, so the connection has always been there. Jackson does believe Fisher was and is ready to be a coach, crediting his former point guard for instilling mental toughness into the team.
Mike Woodson was the previous coach of the Knicks, but was replaced after going 109-79 in three seasons with the franchise. His replacement, Fisher, thanked the team for the early opportunity at his first head coaching gig.
Many believe this is a relief for Fisher as it was a mistake on both sides to agree to the deal. They both decided now is the right time to move on before this mistake turns into a lingering issue.
