Examining Kurt Rambis Career as a Head Coach
By William Lee
The New York Knicks named Kurt Rambis as the interim head coach, how well has he fared at this position in the past?
According to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, the New York Knicks fired head coach Derek Fisher.
The Knicks have fired Derek Fisher, sources told ESPN.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) February 8, 2016
New York named Kurt Rambis as the interim head coach moving forward.
Knicks are not confirming Fisher has been fired, but sources tell ESPN that he has been. Kurt Rambis will be interim coach
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) February 8, 2016
Rambis has a record of 56-145 as a head coach, a winning percentage of 27.9%.
More from Daily Knicks
- Former New York Knicks center gets real about 2013 playoff shortcomings
- When is the deadline for the Knicks to extend Immanuel Quickley?
- 3 Rumored Knicks trade targets not worth giving up RJ Barrett for
- Bill Simmons ‘guarantees’ Knicks will have one of three stars by next year
- How to watch New York Knicks players compete for bronze at World Cup
The last time Rambis was a head coach was for the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he amassed a record of 32-132 from 2009-2011.
While in Minnesota, Rambis had Kevin Love in his sophomore year as a first-year head coach. Rambis (thought it was a good idea… to) benched Love… giving him less starts than his rookie year. Love went from 37-starts in his rookie year to 22 in his sophomore year. Minnesota went from a 24-win team to a 15-win team…
Love’s playing time only increased by 3.3 minutes in his second year. A very slight bump for someone of his statue. Love played only 28.6 minutes per game in 2009-2010 season, receiving less playing time than forwards Ryan Gomes (29.1) and Corey Brewer (30.3). Rambis preferred to start Gomes over Love… starting him 64 times in 2009-2010.
The following year, Rambis finally wised up and started Love. With the increased opportunity, Love averaged 20.2 points, 15.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Love won the NBA Most Improved Player of the Year award, but sadly for the Timberwolves, only improved by two wins. Which caused Minnesota to fire Rambis when the season ended.
All this is to say, hopefully Rambis DOES NOT bench rookie sensation Kristaps Porzingis as the interim head coach. Rambis was trusted to mentor the 7’3″ rookie, who he said himself is a combination of Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol.
PLEASE DO NOT BENCH OUR UNICORN Mr. Rambis.
More from Knicks News
- Former New York Knicks center gets real about 2013 playoff shortcomings
- When is the deadline for the Knicks to extend Immanuel Quickley?
- How to watch New York Knicks players compete for bronze at World Cup
- 3 Reasons Tom Thibodeau can’t ignore Miles McBride in 2023-24
- Knicks fans get super anticlimactic ending to 2023 FIBA World Cup
Although, Rambis did have one successful year as a head coach. Taking over as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers in the lockout season of 1998-1999. Replacing Del Harris, Rambis won 64.9% of his games. Although… it probably helps to have Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant on your team. Considering Rambis was then replaced by current Knicks’ President Phil Jackson, and went on to win the NBA Championship the next year – Rambis being swept in the Western Conference Semifinals has to be considered a failure…
With all that being said, if history repeated itself; if Porzingis were to win the Most Improved Player of the Year award with Rambis at the helm, only to be fired and the Knicks were to go on to win the NBA Championship with Jackson – THAT WOULD BE A DREAM COME TRUE!
More knicks: Who should the Knicks replace Derek Fisher with?
I know… that is a complete fantasy world, can’t a man dream though?