Knicks: Derek Fisher Pens Article About Coaching Tenure

Derek Fisher has come under scrutiny in recent months. The former New York Knicks head coach took to Sports Illustrated’s The Cauldron to pen an article about his recent turmoil.

The Derek Fisher era lasted all but 136 games for the New York Knicks. Despite increasing the team’s win total from the previous season, Fisher was fired just 54 games into the 2015-16 NBA regular season.

Not much has been revealed about the firing, but Fisher made sure to inform people of what it wasn’t about.

Fisher had his critics from a coaching perspective, specifically for his inability to make the necessary fourth quarter adjustments to close out games. He was also embroiled in a scandal with NBA player Matt Barnes and his separated wife, Gloria Govan, that led to Barnes attacking Fisher.

In an article penned on Sports Illustrated’s The Cauldron, Fisher opened up about his firing from the Knicks, and made it clear that his personal life played no factor in the organization’s decision.

First, let’s address this idea that I lost my job because of certain “character” or “integrity” issues. Not only is any such insinuation untrue, it’s downright offensive.

…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.

That’s why I was shocked when stories like that surfaced in the media.

Ian Begley of ESPN New York offered a necessary reminder that Phil Jackson stated that Fisher’s personal life did not play a factor in his firing.

If nothing else, one can move forward with knowledge that New York is basing its personnel decisions on basketball and basketball only.

It’s entirely possible that Jackson simply didn’t mention the personal issues as a reason behind the firing. Given Jackson’s reputation as a straight-shooter who tells it like it is, however, he likely would’ve brought it up had it been an issue.

Keep in mind, this is the same man who managed the egos belonging to Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman by being both fair and firm.

This is also the same man who publicly called his players out through the unforgettable Charley Rosen series on ESPN.

Nevertheless, the timing of Fisher’s firing led to the media speculating that his romantic quarrels played a factor in his dismissal. New York had lost nine of its past 10 games, but very few believed that he was fired for his performance.

Fisher expounded upon the thought, stating that even his players were shocked to hear that the head coach’s personal life was an alleged issue in the locker room.

So were my players. At the time, we were going through a difficult 1–9 stretch, but to its credit, the entire team was still responsive to my leadership, decision making and coaching. They hadn’t given up on me. They weren’t questioning my integrity. My relationships with my players were good and becoming stronger.

The most important quote in Fisher’s entire article: “They hadn’t given up on me.”

After getting back to .500 with a record of 22-22, the Knicks hit a proverbial wall. Through all of the trying times that followed, however, Fisher never seemed to truly lose his grasp on the locker room.

Since Fisher’s firing, New York has gone 4-8 and further distanced itself from the postseason picture.

During Fisher’s tenure as head coach, the veterans never publicly voiced their issues with his approach to the game. Rookie Kristaps Porzingis appeared to be flourishing under coach Fisher as both a defensive anchor and offensive weapon.

Thus, the firing simply suggested that Jackson had a vision for the team that didn’t include Fisher as head coach. The progress it made under him was promising, but The Zen Master clearly sees a brighter future for the organization in different hands.

Only time will tell if Fisher’s dismissal was the right decision.

The only thing that’s known for certain is that he wasn’t let go because of his issues with Barnes.

• Published on 03/10/2016 at 4:11 PM EDT
• Last updated on 03/10/2016 at 4:11 PM EDT