Derek Fisher says Knicks firing was not due to character issues
Former New York Knicks head coach Derek Fisher has responded to his firing from the team last month.
In a statement titled “Truth,” released through The Cauldron, Fisher gives his version of the events that took place.
“First, let’s address this idea that I lost my job because of certain ‘character’ or ‘integrity’ issues,” Fisher wrote. “Not only is any such insinuation untrue, it’s downright offensive.
“When the organization informed me of its decision, the conversation was short. The underlying message was that things weren’t working out the way they had hoped. I thanked management for the opportunity, and that was it,” Fisher continued.
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Fisher then further reiterated that his personal life did not play a factor in the team’s decision to fire him, and specifically addressed his October confrontation with Grizzlies small forward Matt Barnes over his ex-wife Gloria Govan.
Fisher insists that he and Barnes never got into a fight, and that he did not retaliate when Barnes threw punches at him.
“I know I’m not perfect. I’m human and flawed. I’ve failed. I have shortcomings. Everybody does,” Fisher wrote. “That being said, I’ve been in the NBA and the public eye for 20 years. Plenty of people know me well, and they know my true character. I would not have been allowed to lead the teams I led without the character and integrity I possess.”
