NEW YORK (PIX11) — Derek Fisher wasted little time in describing what he knows about winning in New York and the winning he has experienced as a player.
“All I’ve heard about is how special this city can be when the Knicks are winning and the Knicks are playing well and the city is proud and the energy is high. I’ve experienced that on the West Coast and I’m looking forward to experiencing that on the East Coast.”
Stronger words could not have been spoken by Fisher after being introduced as the Knicks new head coach.
Fisher is a five-time champion with former Lakers and current Knicks President Phil Jackson in Los Angeles. The 39-year-old is essentially a disciple of the coaching legend and is expected to implement Jackson’s court doctrine with the Knicks, even though his experience has been scrutinized. “I have not been a head coach in the NBA or in college or high school, but I am experienced.”
Additionally, his dedication to housing a championship caliber team at the garden was evident at Tuesday morning’s news conference, “We will be committed to be the best and our players will understand that and that is what we’re going to get back to.”
New York is a basketball town and with the Knicks turning over a new leaf, PIX11 News wanted to gauge the hiring of Fisher with hoopsters on some of the city’s most recognizable courts.
From Rucker Park in Harlem to McLaughlin Park in Brooklyn to Roosevelt Park on the Lower East Side to the Cage at the West 4th Street Courts in Greenwich Village, everyone thought the Knicks nailed the shot by hiring Fisher.
“This is better than what we had before, I got a lot of hope in them I never give up hope,” said J.C. Collins in Harlem.
“I like this pickup, I mean Derek Fisher knows what it takes to win championships, he’s got 5, so he’s a good coach,” said Raheem Dixon in Brooklyn.
“It was great news when I heard it this morning. What can I say? I’m very proud for the decision that the Knicks made,” said Danny De La Cruz on the Lower East Side.
“I’m hoping it goes well for the Knicks. I’ve been a Knicks fan all my life since “Big L,” Larry Johnson, all of them. So I’m hoping they make it you know?,” said Danny Almazan in Greenwich Village.
Making it in this case means a Knicks world championship for the first time since 1973.
