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Scott Brooks: Derek Fisher coaching Knicks would make 'lot of sense'

Derek Fisher has played portions of the last two seasons with the Thunder, but he has no head coaching experience. (Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

Derek Fisher has played portions of the last two seasons with the Thunder. (Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

Derek Fisher's current head coach thinks he'll be a "great" head coach one day — perhaps even next year with the New York Knicks.

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks told the New York Daily News' Frank Isola that he thinks Fisher would fit well as a head coach under new Knicks team president Phil Jackson.

“I think it would make a lot of sense for Derek to coach in New York," Brooks told Isola. "But there’s no rush. If they wait a few more weeks they can talk to him. I don’t think Phil would talk to him now anyway because Phil has too much respect for the game and Derek. He knows how hard it is to accomplish what we’re trying to do here. But I hope they do speak at some point.”

Isola reported last week that Fisher became a leading candidate for the Knicks' head-coaching jobafter the team was spurned by Steve Kerr, who accepted the same job with the Golden State Warriors.

After missing out on Kerr, Jackson’s plan would be to mentor a new coach with whom he has worked before, according to Isola. Other candidates reportedly include Luke Walton and Tyronn Lue, two players who played for Jackson. 

Though Brooks heaped praise on the possibility, however, he's not sure Fisher wants to stop playing next season.

“Derek will make a great head coach,” Brooks said. “He’s smart, he knows the game and works hard. He’s also played for one of the greatest coaches in sports history ... and I’m not talking about myself, by the way.”

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