Former New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale’s new job
Former New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale isn’t going to stay unemployed this season after inking a new deal with ESPN.
The New York Knicks have had many critics this season breaking down the franchise’s odd moves. The attacks on the front office hierarchy of team president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry have become casual talk around the league.
The latest bold form of criticism could come straight from their former head coach David Fizdale. ESPN announced the former Knicks play-caller as an NBA analyst for the rest of the season, a place he worked before taking the job with New York. The announcement comes as a surprise because of the quick turnaround from Fizdale, who had been out of work less than a month since the firing.
The speculation is that Fizdale could open up about his firing and the private work within the franchise. Fizdale is still a very popular and influential figure amongst NBA players, so his words won’t fall of death ears during ESPN panel discussions. Several former players on the panel include Jalen Rose and Richard Jefferson, have been very critical of the Knicks culture and are supporters of Fizdale’s body of work.
Fizdale spoke with ESPN’s “The Undefeated” shortly after accepting the Knicks job in 2018 and expressed his excitement to revitalize the team.
"“Staying with the process of it, said Fizdale, Not getting overzealous and trying to hit a home run or do something that deep down inside we probably know is not a home run — and. And just being patient with our development, the way we build our culture from the ground up. Doing it the right way, not skipping any steps, treating each other well inside the walls of the organization with what the Knicks stand for. Feeling proud about the name ‘Knicks’ and really trying hard to hammer that down.”"
"“I wanted to land back in a place where I felt like I could really do what I could do. After looking at everything and evaluating everything and after spending time with [Knicks general manager] Scott [Perry], [Knicks president] Steve [Mills], looking at the fact that they’ve got KP [Kristaps Porzingis] there. And it’s the Knicks. It’s just a hard thing to turn down.”"
The dream of a winning tenure with the Knicks never materialized under Fizdale. New York was 21-83 under his leadership, including the trade of Kristaps Porzingis earlier this year.
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Time will tell if Fizdale will be vengeful against his former employers during ESPN programming, but either way, it will be compelling television.