Fansided

New York Knicks’ Phil Jackson prefers Brian Shaw to Derek Fisher

By Andrew Melnick

Mar 31, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Brian Shaw signals his team during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 31, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Brian Shaw signals his team during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
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Just a few weeks ago, it seemed like a forgone conclusion that the next head coach of the New York Knicks would be Steve Kerr. After all, Knicks’ president Phil Jackson coached Kerr with Chicago Bulls and reportedly planned on hiring Kerr to be the head coach of a Seattle franchise he would have been a part of (The Sacramento Kings, of course, remained in Sacramento and that never came to fruition). Kerr, however, spurned his former coach to take over the Golden State Warriors, who have a much more talented and well put together roster.

Since Kerr made the decision, speculation that another former Jackson player, current Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Derek Fisher, could get the Knicks’ gig (A new report has surfaced that Fisher could return to the Thunder as player/assistant coach for the 2014-15 season in order to learn more about coaching in the league).

However, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post, Jackson actually prefers current Denver Nuggets’ head coach Brian Shaw, a former Jackson player and assistant, to Fisher.

"According to a source, Jackson, the Knicks president, prefers Shaw over Fisher, but the Nuggets would require the Knicks to pay compensation. That appears to be a bigger roadblock to getting Shaw out of his Denver contract than Shaw’s reluctance to come to New York. It’s unclear whether Jackson has formally asked the Nuggets permission to speak to Shaw.The source said Jackson hasn’t given up total hope he somehow can pry Shaw from Denver, especially if the Fisher scenario falls through."

Shaw went 36-46 in his first season with the Nuggets.

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