Five-time NBA champion Derek Fisher was confirmed as the new head coach for the WNBA side Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday, one and a half years since he was fired by the Knicks.
Fisher, 44, won the NBA Championships five times with the Los Angeles Lakers and was the president of the National Basketball Players Association before becoming the Knicks’ manager in 2014. He rallied New York to a 22-22 game record before a 9/10 losing streak got him fired in 2016.
“I’m excited to be the new head coach of the LA Sparks,” Fisher said. “There is no finer organization in the WNBA and I can’t wait to work with our ownership group, front office, talented players and staff to cement a culture of sustained excellence, which is what LA basketball fans demand—and deserve.”
Fisher was welcomed to LA by two-time WNBA MVP Candace Parker.
“Derek is a great basketball mind who brings a ton of high-level experience to our team,” Parker said. “I look forward to working with someone with championship pedigree and who has a track record of strong leadership. Derek has been a strong supporter of women’s basketball for quite some time, so it’s nice to officially welcome him.”
