The
Contenders
Derek Fisher:
From all media reports and NBA fines, Fisher is Jackson’s number one contender.
Fisher and Jackson reportedly had a brief chat this week and Jackson was
recently fined $25,000 for mentioning Fisher as a candidate while still playing
in the Western Conference Finals for OKC. He coached Fisher in Los Angeles, winning 5 championships
in their time together. Fisher like Kerr share a similar philosophy to Jackson
and extremely familiar with the triangle offense. Jackson has said that he
prefers a coach familiar with this system since it is the system he plans to
implement no matter the coach. After seeing the success the Nets eventually had
with Jason Kidd as their head coach the idea of Fisher going from player right
to coach is not as farfetched as it would have sounded a year ago. All signs
point to this job being Fisher’s to turn down.
Mark Jackson: The
Knicks have yet to contact the former Golden State Warrior head coach, but
expect that to change if Fisher gets cold feet. Although Jackson recently
signed a five-year broadcasting deal with ESPN his contract does not forbid him
from taking a head coaching job. There are few people that understand the wacky
environment that is MSG and very few that understand the people of New York.
Jackson is a native, a former Knicks and a damn good coach. Oh and Anthony has
said he would embrace playing for Jackson on a couple occasions. In his time at
Golden State Jackson was revered by his players something former Knick coach
Mike Woodson never experienced. Expect the silence between Jackson and his
former team to end in the near future.
Kurt Rambis: Rambis
was included in Jackson’s initial list and a deserving candidate. Rambis is a
former third round pick by the Knicks and can bring a wealth of experience to
the team. As a player he won four championships with the Showtime Lakers and
was on Jackson’s bench for the Kobe-Shaq three-peat. He is another candidate
that fulfills the triangle offense requirement and someone Jackson would feel comfortable
giving the reins to.
The
Dark Horses
Mike D’Antoni:
Just kidding. He may be a solid option for the New York Liberty down the road.
Jeff Van Gundy: Van
Gundy is the last coach to have legitimate success at MSG. Since fleeing for Houston in 2003 the Knicks
have had little to zero success at the head coaching position. Van Gundy, like
his broadcasting partner Mark Jackson, does not fit the triangle offense
requirement, but does fit the James Dolan management requirement. No other coach
has handled Dolan better and can help mediate the Jackson-Dolan dynamic which
has shown quiet friction. It is unlikely that Van Gundy gives up his cushy ESPN
job for the foxhole at MSG, but a dark horse nonetheless.
Patrick Ewing: One
of the greatest players to ever don a Knick uniform and definitely one of the
most underappreciated Knicks, Ewing has recently voiced his desire to be
considered for the job. Ewing has put in the work, working as an assistant coach
for 12 years. Both Jeff and Stan Van Gundy have said on multiple occasions that
Ewing is deserving of head coach job. Ewing served on Jeff’s staff in Houston
and on Stan’s staff in Orlando, including the year they went to the finals. It remains to be seen if the Knicks will reach
out to one of their greats, but it would not come as a shock if Ewing is at
least brought in for a sit down.
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