Report: Phil Jackson fined $25,000 for tampering with Thunder's Derek Fisher

Phil Jackson is focussing on younger coaches to fill the Knicks job. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

New York Knicks president Phil Jackson has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for tampering after comments he made about Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Derek Fisher, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.

Fisher is believed to be Jackson's top candidate for the Knicks' head coaching vacancy, and last week the Hall of Fame coach spoke about the possibility of hiring the former Laker, according to Newsday's Al Iannazzone.

"The last two summers, Derek and I have talked about the next step in his career," Jackson said. "So I kind of know what he wants to do, and his feelings. He's got family in L.A. He's got little kids still in L.A. I have no idea if he wants to move his family and come here. Those are things that he would have to express. There are so many unknowns."

Fisher said that he was still deciding about whether or not he would retire and join the coaching ranks after the Thunder were eliminated from the playoffs on Saturday.

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