Fansided

Phil Jackson sets sights on Kevin Durant in 2016

By Mike Marteny

May 29, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots over San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) during the first half in game five of the Western Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
May 29, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots over San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) during the first half in game five of the Western Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Knicks general manager Phil Jackson finally has his coach in Derek Fisher.  Fisher may not have been the Zen Master’s first choice, but he does offer something that Steve Kerr could not: Fisher is close friends with some guy named Kevin Durant.  Yes, the same Kevin Durant that will be a free agent in the summer of 2016.

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    • Fisher, who won five championships as a point guard for Phil Jackson’s Lakers, also played two years with Kevin Durant in Oklahoma City.  Durant raved about Fisher’s coaching potential during the playoffs this year as well.

    Durant has spent his entire career with the Seattle Supersonics/Oklahoma City Thunder after being drafted second overall by the Sonics in 2007.  Durant has made five All-Star teams, won the NBA rookie of the year award in 2008, and won the MVP in 2013-14.

    Durant had a streak of 12 straight games with 30 plus points, and scored at least 25 in 41 straight games, breaking a record set by Michael Jordan.  Any time you are mention in the same sentence as Jordan, not to mention breaking one of his records, you are talking about a special player.

    Durant has amassed 14,851 career points to go with 3,751 rebounds and 1,892 assists.

    Durant is also friends with current Knick forward Carmelo Anthony.  Fisher will be charged with keeping Anthony happy enough to stick around in New York, hopefully helping in the recruitment of Durant.

    This will be a difficult task to be sure, but Jackson now has the pieces in place to make a serious run at Durant in 2016.  The Thunder are likely the only team that will be able to compete with what the Knicks can offer.

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