The New York Knicks have added a bit more Los Angeles Lakers championship flavor to the organization by way of Derek Fisher’s staff.
Coach Fisher and Knicks Team President Phil Jackson announced the hiring of Kurt Rambis as associate head coach on Monday. Rambis has been a part of eight NBA championship teams as a player and a coach, and worked in conjunction with D-Fish for 10 years in Los Angeles.
“Kurt is exactly the type of person we want in our organization to help develop our culture of success,” Derek said. “His vast knowledge and experience as a championship player and coach are traits that we embrace adding to our staff.”
Rambis will be Derek’s top assistant and right-hand man on the bench, and he’s the first piece of that bench to be assembled thus far. Rambis was serving as an assistant with the Lakers when Derek was drafted in 1996 and was Derek’s head coach with the Lakers during the lockout shortened 1999 season. Jackson was hired as coach after that season and Rambis briefly served as assistant GM before returning to the bench on Jackson’s staff in 2001. He served seven seasons on Jackson’s staff over two stints, most of which Derek was a Lakers player.
Jackson noted that the hiring of Rambis, who shares a similar philosophy and knowledge of the triangle offense as the two Knicks leaders, is a great second step toward assembling the New York coaching staff.
“Together, Derek and I have started assembling a coaching staff to lead this team on and off the court,” Jackson said. “The three of us are similar in our philosophies and our approach to the game.”
Rambis was drafted by the Knicks in 1980 out of Santa Clara University, though he was waived before playing a game. He went on to play 14 seasons in the NBA with the Lakers, Hornets, Suns and Kings.
https://twitter.com/NY_KnicksPR/status/486151564973715456
#Knicks President @PhilJackson11 announces that the team has named Kurt Rambis associate head coach, reuniting him with @derekfisher #NYMADE
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) July 7, 2014
RELATED ARTICLES
- Knicks name Kurt Rambis associate head coach (Knicks.com, July 7, 2014)
- Knicks make offer to Rambis to be Fisher’s top assistant (NY Post, July 3, 2014)
- Knicks add triangle guru Kurt Rambis to staff (AP, July 7, 2014)
- Knicks name longtime LA assistant Rambis associate HC (PIX11, July 7, 2014)
- Knicks add Rambis as Fisher’s No. 2 (ESPN NY, July 7, 2014)
