The New York Knicks joined the Memphis Grizzlies as two teams searching for a new head coach after the Knicks fired head coach Jeff Hornacek once the NBA season came to an end. While the Grizzlies decided to retain their interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, the Knicks decided to pick up the coach Memphis fired early into the 2017-18 season, David Fizdale.
Following comes from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
David Fizdale has agreed to a deal to become the New York Knicks coach, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 3, 2018
Fizdale will sign a four-year contract with the Knicks, league source tells ESPN. https://t.co/BPIDb3Jloh
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 3, 2018
The Grizzlies fired Fizdale after a 7-12 start to the season and a reported rift with star big man Marc Gasol. The two reportedly did not get along too well and Memphis decided to side with their big money star in Gasol. Fizdale registered a 50-51 record in his season-plus with Memphis. He famously spent eight years with the Miami heat from 2008-2016.
The Knicks head coach vacancy became the one with the most names connected to it this offseason at one point eclipsing over 10 people interviewing for the position. While the likes of Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy were among the names connected to the gig, it’s Fizdale who gets the coaching job he coveted.
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 (@MarcJSpearsESPN) May 3, 2018
David Fizdale passed on a 4-year offer from the Phoenix Suns before eventually accepting a 4-year offer from the New York Knicks to become head coach, league sources told The Athletic. https://t.co/lcWeTHjUpZ
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) May 3, 2018
