The New York Knicks have hired Dave Fizdale as their next head coach on a four-year contract, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. He was selected over former Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer and former Cleveland Cavaliers coach David Blatt, who were also reportedly under high consideration. This is Fizdale’s second NBA head coaching position.
Fizdale last served as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies this past season, but was shockingly fired 19 games into his second season for reasons that appeared to center around Marc Gasol. The Grizzlies were off to a brutal start to the season, going 7-12, but things really started to boil when Fizdale benched Gasol for the fourth quarter of a close game.
According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, the two had been on bad terms before then, and a choice between the two was inevitable. Ultimately, the organization sided with its star. Fizdale coached the Memphis Grizzlies last season, but was unexpectedly fired.