Derek Fisher reportedly is the New York Knicks' top choice to replace former coach Mike Woodson. While it's uncertain if Fisher will land in New York, the veteran guard admitted the idea of coaching in the NBA excites him.
With Steve Kerr now the coach of the Golden State Warriors, Knicks president Phil Jackson reportedly is focused on convincing Fisher, who won five championships with Jackson as a Laker, to fill the team's coaching vacancy.
The Knicks are continuing to "cement themselves as the strong frontrunner to hire him," according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
Jackson is expected to meet with Fisher soon since the Oklahoma City Thunder's season is now over.
"Jackson has been eager to sell Fisher, 39, on the possibility of Jackson mentoring him as part of a direct move from Fisher's playing career into the Knicks head coaching job," Wojnarowski wrote on Monday. "Fisher is taking a few days to finalize his thoughts on the likely end of his 18-year playing career before fully engaging in talks to become a head coach."
Fisher wouldn't rule out playing next season and, if he did retire this summer, he wouldn't confirm whether he would jump immediately into coaching next season. He did, however, acknowledge becoming a coach -- at some point -- is something he would want to do.
"Coaching allows me to positively impact other people's lives, to help people find success when they haven't or have, working together for a common goal," Fisher said on Sunday during his exit interview for Oklahoma City, via the New York Post. "That's what I did for 33 years as a player, starting with basketball at age 6. There's a love for helping other people.
"Not playing anymore -- if that's what it's to be -- coaching or being in the front office or being in a role where I can positively impact others and work together for a common goal is exciting to me."
