NY Knicks Worst Record Ever, Galloway a Storybook Season
Derek Fisher was hired as New York Knicks Head Coach, on June 10, 2014. Fisher had just retired the previous year after playing 18 seasons in the NBA. Fisher won five Championships (2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010), as the starting point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, under his now boss and then Lakers Head Coach, Knicks President Phil Jackson. Fisher also won a sixth NBA Championship with the Lakers as a key reserve in 2000.
Nonetheless, with all Fisher’s accomplishments leading teams on the court, his leadership skills from the bench as a Head Coach will certainly be questioned this off-season, as the Knicks finished, 17-65, recording their worst record in franchise history.
No team desires to end a season with the distinction of “worst record ever” but the Knicks might be able to covert this disaterous season into a windfall, on June 25, 2015.
The Knicks won their last two out of three games to closeout this season, which lifted them over the Minnesota Timberwolves, who sustained the worst record, 16-66, in the NBA this season.
By finishing with the second worst record in the league, the Knicks are guaranteed at least a top five pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, which is being held on June 25, in New York City. They also have a 20 percent chance of getting the first pick in this year’s Draft. The Knicks will find out their draft selection status on May 19, when the NBA conducts their Draft Lottery.
But despite Fisher’s troubles this season, he took time after the final game against the Detroit Pistons to recognize his players for continuing to come to work and being steadfast to learn and try to win. “I am personally thankful for the players that continued to come to these games every night despite being completely outmanned and outnumbered and try to do the right thing and win,” acknowledged Fisher.
One player in particular Fisher acknowledged was Westchester Knicks original roster member guard Langston Galloway, who was the first call-up from the D-League Knicks to the NY Knicks on January 7.
Galloway’s talents to play on the NBA level could not be denied and he was eventually fixed into the Knicks starting line-up. Galloway started 41 of the 45 games he played for the NY Knicks this season, while averaging 11.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists. The 23 year old undrafted free agent from St. Joseph’s University led the NBA Knicks with assists 10 times this season.
“You talk about a movie or a book in terms of Langston’s journey, while being a four-year player out of a mid-major college undrafted and goes to the D-League and continues to persevere and believe in himself, so when his opportunity comes he would be ready for it,” Fisher explained.
“Guys like Langston, who show-up and all of a sudden are on the stage and people have no idea who they are or where they came from but they always knew that they would get there, so it was no surprise to Langston what he was able to do,” said Fisher, who also gave special recognition to forward Jason Smith for his efforts this season.
Now let the NY Knicks bring back Galloway and Smith and also acquire a prolific scorer to complement Carmelo Anthony’s outstanding scoring ability and secure a proven point guard. Then maybe Fisher will have a valid Knicks team to coach next season.
