The New York Knicks and Derek Fisher have reached a verbal agreement that will make the former point guard the team's head coach.
According to several reports, when the deal is finalized, Fisher will earn $25 million over five years. Yahoo! Sports first reported the news.
Knicks president Phil Jackson has hotly pursued Fisher since Steve Kerr spurned him for the Golden State Warriors' head-coaching job last month. Shortly thereafter, Jackson turned his full attention to acquiring Fisher and made his interest in having him call the shots on the Knicks' sideline known while the point guard was still a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Thunder were still active in the playoffs when Jackson make his interest in Fisher public. As a result, the NBA fined Jackson $25,000 for tampering. But after Oklahoma City was eliminated from the playoffs by the San Antonio Spurs, Fisher expressed interest in becoming a head coach.
"In the last maybe decade or so, I've really felt like my purpose in life, my calling so to speak, was to be in a leadership position or some position of impact on other people," Fisher said. "Coaching allows for you to positively impact other people's lives."
Throughout his pro career, Fisher has had a reputation as a solid leader on the court and in the locker room. He has served as president of the NBA Players Association.
Jackson and Fisher built a close relationship while the two were with the Los Angeles Lakers -- Fisher as the team's starting point guard and Jackson its head coach. The pair won five NBA championships with the Lakers, who recently showed interest in Fisher for its vacant head-coaching job.
Fisher, 39, played 18 seasons in the NBA, a majority with the Lakers. He spent most of the past three seasons as a key reserve for the Thunder.
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