Report: Jackson fined $25,000 for tampering

New York Knicks president Phil Jackson was fined $25,000 by the NBA for tampering with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Derek Fisher, ESPN.com reported.

Jackson was reportedly fined for statements he made during a press conference last week about the possibility of hiring Fisher as the Knicks coach.

The NBA fined Jackson, in part, to reinforce its annual reminder to teams about its anti-tampering rules. Teams are not permitted to directly or indirectly express interest in other teams’ looming free agents.

Fisher said earlier that he wants to someday coach in the NBA. He helped the Los Angeles Lakers win five NBA titles in the 2000s when Jackson coached the team.

Fisher ran Jackson’s triangle offense as the Lakers’ point guard. He has not officially retired but has hinted this could be his final season playing with the Thunder, who were eliminated from the Western Conference finals on Saturday.

Jackson would prefer to hire one of his former players who knows his offense.