Kevin Durant endorses Derek Fisher as a coach

Derek Fisher could be an NBA coach within a month. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Derek Fisher hasn't given any thought as to whether he wants to entertain potential offers to become a head coach next season, but one person who supports the idea is none other than his Oklahoma City teammate Kevin Durant. Speaking to Marc Berman of the New York Post this week, the reigning MVP said Fisher has all the requisite qualities to coach in the NBA:

"Without a doubt. He’s a smart guy, smart mind. He’s a great motivator, great speaker and can really relate to a lot of guys and demands that respect from everybody. He’s a great locker-room guy. I’m sure he’ll do a great job."

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Fisher had said as far back as training camp that this would be his final season in the NBA, bringing an end to an 18-year career for the five-time NBA champion. The veteran point guard, who turns 40 in August, had also served as president of the NBPA from 2006-2013, helping navigate the players during the 2011 lockout.

Despite admitting that the idea of coaching is the "last thing on my mind" while his Thunder currently face the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, Fisher has also received endorsements from Reggie Miller and his own coach, Scott Brooks. During the TNT broadcast of the Thunder-Spurs game on Monday, Miller spoke to Fisher's credentials, specifically having played under Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson with the Los Angeles Lakers. He added that it's entirely possible that Jackson, now the President of Basketball Operations with the New York Knicks, reaches out to Fisher during the offseason:

"If there’s one guy who knows the triangle in and out, it would be Derek Fisher, part of those great championship runs. I think he could be a great coach. He has a great basketball mind. I wouldn’t be surprised if [New York] gave him a shot.’’

Brooks also chimed in recently with his thoughts on the player-turned-coach prospect for Fisher, saying a move to lead the Knicks would make a "lot of sense."

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