The New York Knicks got their guy on Thursday afternoon with the hiring David Fizdale. For those who may not know, Fizdale is the former Memphis Grizzlies coach who was fired after a season and a half.
For David Fizdale that wasn't the only job he was offered though during this offseason. According to Marc J. Spears of ESPN he was offered the Phoenix Suns job, but he turned it down in hopes of getting the Knicks job.
New Knicks head coach David Fizdale gets the job he strongly wanted after rolling the dice and turning down the Suns recently.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) May 3, 2018
Fizdale did a solid job with the Grizzlies, but was reportedly let go because he and star center Marc Gasol simply couldn't get on the same page. It got to the point where reports said one of the two would have to go, and the Grizzlies ultimately decided to keep Gasol.
Prior to his Grizzlies gig, Fizdale was an assistant to Erik Spoelstra and the Miami Heat. Together, he helped the team win championships in 2012 and 2013. Spoelstra has been one his Fizdales biggest fans and recently gave a raving review about his former assistant.
“You can throw him into any room, and he will be able to work with that room,” Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra recently told the Palm Beach Post. “Anywhere. From where he grew up in South Central [Los Angeles] to a board meeting to a basketball camp, he can bring any group of people together. And I know I’ll always get the truth out of Fiz, even if it’s not what I want to hear.”
Fizdale is a good coach and should be a good fit with the New York Knicks organization that's looking to complete their culture change after trading away Carmelo Anthony and getting rid of Phil Jackson as President of Basketball Operations.
Follow Us
Subscribe