The New York Knicks dismissed second-year head coach David Fizdale on Friday, opening a vacant position for candidates to contend for, provided they want to coach the team.
A few early names are emerging as candidates for the job, including Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Jason Kidd, San Antonio Spurs assistant Becky Hammon, and former Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson, who is now a television commentator for ESPN.
On ESPN's “NBA Countdown” on Friday night, “First Take” co-host Stephen A. Smith reported that Jason Kidd is “a name that will come up” as a possible candidate. Kidd is a Hall of Fame point guard and former head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets.
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CNBC's Jabari Young reported that Mark Jackson, who was ousted with the Warriors after back-to-back postseason berths, is also a name “floating” around. Jackson has a history with the Knicks, being a hometown product that was drafted by the organization and won Rookie of the Year in 1987 with them.
Early coaching names floating around league circles as a replacement include former Knicks guard and Brooklyn native Mark Jackson, who last coached the Golden State Warriors to a 51-31 record in the 2013-14 season.
“I think he could do well there,” one Eastern Conference scout told CNBC shortly after Fizdale’s dismissal was reported. “But would they hire Mark?”
Becky Hammon, a former New York Liberty All-Star guard who is now on Gregg Popovich's Spurs coaching staff, is another potential contender too. Hammon was the first female assistant in the NBA and could step up as the first female head coach for the league that has long been a barrier of entry for women.
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