New York Knicks President Phil Jackson’s search for a new coach has not gone smoothly. First, his No. 1 choice Steve Kerr decides to sign with the Golden State Warriors instead of joining Jackson, with whom he won three NBA Championships. Now, Jackson, who is in pursuit of Derek Fisher, was fined $25,000 by the league for violating a league tampering rule.
The NBA rule states that teams are not allowed to publicize their interest about other teams’ personnel as they approach free agency, according to Yahoo Sports.
Jackson stated publicly his interest in Fisher last week, while Fisher was still playing with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.
Upon the Thunder’s defeat in game six on Saturday night, Fisher became fair game for Jackson and other NBA executives. Jackson plans on reaching out to the veteran point guard this week.
"I'm still struggling with the results of [the series]," Fisher said, reports ESPN. "I haven't [had] a chance to talk to my wife and kind of step back emotionally from the end of the season. That's important to do, so that whatever is next, there has to be a separation from the end of the season and what just happened and then I can go from there."
Fisher, 39, has played in the NBA for 18 seasons. He played under Jackson with the Los Angeles Lakers, and together they won five NBA Championships.
Fisher is also rumored to be a potential candidate for the Lakers’ coaching vacancy, but sources report that the front office would prefer a coach with experience. Joining the Lakers would reunite Fisher with Kobe Bryant, with whom he shares a special bond.
Other potential candidates for Jackson and the Knicks include former Warriors coach and ex-Knick Mark Jackson, Laker assistant Kurt Rambis and D-League developmental coach Luke Walton.