The New York Knicks' 2015-16 season has certainly not gone as planned. The team entered the year knowing it did not have the best roster but was hopeful that players could develop. Head coach Derek Fisher was entering his second season with the Knicks and was at least aiming for progress in New York. That did not happen, and Fisher was fired in the middle of the year. Now in an attempt to clear his name, he is denying certain rumors around why he left New York.
According to Fisher, the Knicks fired him for on-court struggles, not off-court issues. On the court, Fisher went 40-96 in two seasons with the Knicks. When the team fired him, New York was on a five-game losing streak. It had one win in 10 games. Performance from players was dismal. Off the court, Fisher was involved in drama regarding Matt Barnes and his relationship with the forward's ex, Gloria Govan. The two former teammates reportedly got into a fight over the relationship, but Fisher is making it clear that did not result in his time ending with the Knicks.
"When the organization informed me of its decision, the conversation was short. The underlying message was that things weren't working out the way they had hoped. I thanked management for the opportunity, and that was it," Fisher wrote. "At no time did anyone at that meeting express to me that stories about my personal life were distracting from the collective task at hand, or - more important - that any of my players had expressed to management that they had lost confidence in me as their coach. Nothing remotely like that was ever brought up or discussed."
Team president Phil Jackson told the media following the altercation between Fisher and Barnes that the coach's actions were disappointing, but were not grounds for a firing. In an attempt to save his reputation, Fisher blames Barnes in the statement for leaking the fight between them. Regardless, Fisher is making it clear that the Knicks did not consider the incident when firing him.
Now, interim coach Kurt Rambis is trying to guide the team and not having much luck either. New York looks poised for a solid NBA draft pick while setting its focus on free agency. It will have to adjust the coaching issue quickly. Jackson will be left to decide whether to retain Rambis or chase someone else. When Jackson hired Rambis, he told the media that the interim head coach will be given every chance to retain the job for the future. Sources are reporting that offer still stands as Jackson could end up keeping Rambis over chasing names like Luke Walton or Tom Thibodeau.
