Rise of the Guards: Derek Fisher signs a 5-year $25M deal for Head Coach of New York #Knicks

Mark J. Rebilas/US PRESSWIR

Earlier today, Yahoo sports announced Derek Fisher has signed a 5-year $25 Million deal for Head Coach of the New York Knicks. Fisher is the second of recent guards to make the transition from player to coach after Jason Kidd did so just a year ago. 

The Head Coach job was originally set out for Steve Kerr, who just signed the same deal as Fisher with the Golden State Warriors. Because of that said deal, Fisher became the next suitable candidate for the position.

Derek Fisher has always been more than an athlete. He served as NBPA president from 2006 up until 2013, where he was voted out by the union even after he ushered them through a 2011 lockout. Needless to say, he is not shy of being a leader, especially after learning from some pretty phenomenal mentors like Phil Jackson -- President of NY Knicks

Now that he is paired up with his old coach, Phil Jackson, how will the former guard and former head coach collaborate? When they were paired as HC and G, Phil coached Derek through five captivating Los Angeles Lakers championships out of Derek's 13 seasons with the Lakers. Since then, Derek has become a legend playing in an NBA record 259 playoff games (winning an NBA record of 161). Since Jackson seems to be the only coach alive that has been successful with a triangle offense, one would assume Fisher would follow suit. 

Let us all wish for as much success for Head Coach Derek Fisher as he has had in his career as a player. An ode to progress -- to leadership.

by Falating Woods (@falawoods)