The Knicks made it official Monday with Kurt Rambis, naming him associate head coach to Derek Fisher as Phil Jackson cited his similar philosophy.
Rambis coached Fisher and was on Jackson’s Lakers’ staffs that employed the triangle offense. The Post reported last week the Knicks had made Rambis an offer of $1.2 million per year for four years. Rambis and Fisher were together for 10 seasons with the Lakers.
“Together, Derek and I have started assembling a coaching staff to lead this team on and off the court,” Jackson said in a statement. “The three of us are similar in our philosophies and our approach to the game.”
Rambis has been a part of eight NBA title teams as a player, assistant coach or advisor/assistant general manager, all with the Lakers.
“Kurt is exactly the type of person we want in our organization to help develop our culture of success,” Fisher said. “His vast knowledge and experience as a championship player and coach are traits that we embrace adding to our staff.”
Rambis returns to New York 34 years after the Knicks drafted him in the third round (58th overall) of the 1980 Draft out of Santa Clara University, though they waived him before he played a game.