Derek Fisher took one important lesson from his rough debut as an NBA head coach last season with the New York Knicks.
"All coaches are crazy," Fisher said Wednesday while cracking a wide smile on the floor of UALR's Jack Stephens Center. "To sign up to do this, you have to think differently."
After a 20-year playing career that included five NBA titles, Fisher took over as the Knicks head coach last season. The results haven't mirrored his playing career so far.
Marred by the absence of Carmelo Anthony -- who had knee surgery -- for much of the season, the Knicks went 17-65 last season for the lowest victory total in franchise history.
Fisher isn't deterred. He's always looked to get better, first as a player and now as a head coach.
"I'm constantly in a state of learning and improvement," he said. "It doesn't always happen when you want it to. I'm looking forward to this coming season. We're going to be challenged in a lot of ways, but we're going to be a lot better and more impactful in the Eastern Conference this year."
Fisher's impact on UALR remains strong.
The 1992 Little Rock Parkview graduate scored 1,393 points during his UALR career, third-most in program history, and led the Trojans to a 23-7 season as a senior in 1995-1996 before being drafted in the first round by the Los Angeles Lakers.
Fisher has been back home sporadically during a 20-year NBA career, and he'll be honored tonight as the featured guest at SpectacUALR, the school's largest annual athletic fundraiser that has raised almost $1.1 million over six years.
"I think it's another opportunity for us to rally around our city," Fisher said. "Little Rock has always been home for me. I moved away 20 years ago when I got drafted by the Lakers in Los Angeles, but home has never left my heart."
Fisher spoke to UALR athletes later and he said he's talked with Chris Beard once since Beard was hired as the school's men's basketball coach in April.
UALR has managed to win 23 games in a season only once since Fisher's left, but he said it's a level attainable by Beard. It just may not come right away.
"Being good or great takes time," Fisher said. "Even though patience is not a popular word in 2015, being great is still something that you have to be patient for. I think we're moving in the right direction in terms of the hire and what he's going to be capable of doing."
Fisher also said big crowds can return to UALR. The Trojans' averaged 1,408 fans for 12 home games last season, easily the lowest in the Sun Belt Conference.
Fisher said a combination of successful teams, a commitment by the school to the community and a local presence on the team could help bring people to the games.
"I think that was a big part of why people followed the school somewhat while I was here," Fisher said. "I was a Little Rock kid that came to school here and we won a few games and I was a decent story.
"So, no pressure to all the kids in Little Rock who are looking for a school to go to, but this would be a good one to go to if you're looking for somewhere to go."
Fisher said local athletes also could use him as an example.
"I don't like to necessarily say it, but I'm proof right here in this city that everything you've ever dreamed of, want to do, can do, or are inspired to do, passionate about doing, you can do it from here," he said. "You don't have to be from somewhere else to be what you want to be.
"I'm glad to be able to represent that type of story."
Sports on 09/10/2015