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NY Knicks fire Derek Fisher; Rambis interim head coach

February 8, 2016

Derek Fisher, left, has been replaced by Kurt Rambis, right, as the head coach of the New York Knicks. (AP, file)

Derek Fisher was fired by Phil Jackson and replaced by another former Laker Kurt Rambis.

The New York Knicks made the change on Monday, as they have lost five straight and nine of 10 to fall well back in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Rambis, who had been serving as an associate head coach, was promoted to interim head coach despite a 56-145 record over two years with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Fisher was midway through his second season. The Knicks are 23-31 and went 40-96 under Fisher. Jackson, as the team president, hired his former player in June 2014 shortly after Fisher ended his playing career.

Fisher thanked Jackson, Madison Square Garden Chairman James Dolan, along with his players and staff.

“This is a very talented team with strong character and I am confident they will succeed,” Fisher said in a statement. “Obviously, I’m disappointed, but have learned an immense amount from this experience and hope to grow from it.”

The Knicks went 17-65 last season but upgraded their roster during the summer with the drafting of Kristaps Porzingis and the signing of veterans Arron Afflalo and Robin Lopez.

They had the look of a playoff team most of the season but are stumbling into the All-Star break, and fans loudly booed when they fell behind by 19 points Sunday during a 101-96 loss to the Denver Nuggets.

Fisher accepted some of the blame for the team’s recent slow starts after the game, though All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony said that was the responsibility of the players.

Fisher was a five-time champion playing under Jackson with the Lakers and known as one of the league’s smartest players. Jackson turned to him as his second choice after Steve Kerr chose to take the Golden State Warriors’ job after he was on the verge of accepting the Knicks’ offer.

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*AP materials were used in this article.