David Fizdale's hiring was unanimously approved after a conscious effort to make an in-depth search for the New York Knicks coaching job, but no one was more excited than center Enes Kanter, who is fresh off finishing his first season with the team.

“I like him a lot,” Enes Kanter told Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic.

“I think it’s amazing. Defensive-minded coach. I think it’s going to be good for the Knicks.”

Kanter's comments ring somewhat confusing, as he hasn't been known to be a defensive player throughout his career. The Turkish international is also expected to opt out of his contract this summer, seeking a long-term deal — one the team could choose to walk away from, needing cap space to make changes within the roster.

The 43-year-old Fizdale is one of the youngest coaching talents in the league and one who has had his share of positive and negatives with players — beloved by the likes of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade as an assistant for the Miami Heat and not so much by Memphis Grizzlies star center Marc Gasol.

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“The best player and the coach aren’t always going to get along and that’s just how it goes sometimes,” Fizdale told ESPN back in December. “He was the best player on teams and I’m sure he didn’t always love his coach. It’s just unfortunate circumstances how it all played out on the stage. But that’s just normal stuff. Whether we like each or not it’s not about that, it’s about winning games. It’s about us working hard together to get ‘Ws.”

An L.A. native, Fizdale went a whisker shy of the .500 mark throughout his short-lived coaching stint with Memphis, going 50-51 through a season and 19 games with the team.

The Fizdale era will now get a fresh start in New York.

Take that for data.