After reaching an agreement with him last week, the Knicks have officially named David Fizdale their new head coach, confirming the hiring today in a press release. Fizdale reportedly agreed to a four-year deal with the Knicks.
The Knicks’ announcement today includes quotes from president Steve Mills, who calls Fizdale a “great fit” for New York, and from GM Scott Perry, who praises Fizdale’s “championship pedigree, resiliency, and expertise in player development.” Team owner James Dolan also provided a statement of his own on the hiring.
“I would like to congratulate and welcome David to the Knicks organization,” Dolan said. “David is a bright and creative basketball mind who is highly respected throughout the NBA. I’m confident that Steve and Scott identified the right coach to lead this team to the success our loyal fans deserve.”
A longtime assistant in Miami, Fizdale won a pair of championships with the Heat and landed his first head coaching job in 2016 when he was hired by the Grizzlies. He led Memphis to a 43-39 (.524) mark in his first year with the club, but his relationship with Marc Gasol deteriorated early in the 2017/18 campaign, and he was fired 19 games into the season.
Fizdale was one of the most coveted head coaching candidates on the market this spring, meeting with the Suns, Hawks, Hornets, and Magic before accepting the Knicks’ job. Fizdale reportedly turned down a four-year offer to become Phoenix’s head coach, opting instead to succeed Jeff Hornacek in New York.
The Knicks met with 11 total head coaching candidates before reaching an agreement with Fizdale.
Former Cavs, Warriors, and Kings head coach Keith Smart, who worked with Fizdale in Miami and Memphis, is expected to join the Knicks’ staff as an assistant.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
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