David Fizdale once felt like he was floating atop the Empire State Building after he was named as coach of the New York Knicks. He had a young squad led by new acquisition Julius Randle and lottery pick Julius Randle. The future seemed bright. Until it wasn't.

After just 104 games with the Knicks, Fizdale was fired. It sent the passionate tactician into an emotional tailspin, admitting to The Undefeated that he struggled with his mental health (via New York Post).

“I really was at the lowest place I’ve ever been from a mental health standpoint.”

The shocking sacking also placed doubts on Fizdale's mind. He signed a five-year deal with the Knicks worth $22 million, but he didn't even get to the half of his second season. To him, it felt the whole stint was an aberration.

“When you go through the whole part of, ‘What could I have done different? Did I even deserve this job?’ You think like you were an imposter. You felt like you got over on these people. You’re a fraud.”

Fizdale admitted he had a hard time figuring out how to connect with his players. Randle wasn't a leader yet, Barrett was a newcomer, while guys like Bobby Portis Jr. and Marcus Morris were mercurial. But Fizdale never pointed fingers, acknowledging he took the wrong approach.

“I loved them, and probably a big part of me wanted them to love me back. I had a very hard time disconnecting from the human being in them. And so I found myself in a conundrum. It was eating me alive every day.”

With several jobs available in the NBA, David Fizdale said he's ready to return. Clearly, his failed stint with the Knicks only made him better.