Report: Walton, Shaw candidates for Knicks' coaching job

While Kurt Rambis has been named the New York Knicks' interim coach in the wake of Derek Fisher's firing, Luke Walton and Brian Shaw are the top long-term replacement candidates, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.

Neither name should come as much of a surprise, as both played under Knicks president Phil Jackson when he coached the Los Angeles Lakers, with Shaw also working as an assistant for a time.

Fisher was hired in 2014 after the Knicks lost out on Steve Kerr. The onetime point guard went straight from playing to head coaching after an 18-year career, and amassed a 40-96 record in 1 1/2 seasons in New York.

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While names of other candidates are sure to fly in coming weeks, Walton will garner significant interest around the league thanks to his work in helping the Golden State Warriors to a 39-4 record while Kerr sat out due to back surgery.

Shaw was fired by the Denver Nuggets last season after, like Fisher, less than two seasons on the job. Shaw reportedly had difficulties connecting with and motivating players after several seasons being hyped as an NBA head coach-in-waiting. Some of that may have been mostly linked to difficulties with then-Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson, however.