ESPN: David Fizdale will be Knicks next head coach
NEW YORK CITY -- A person with knowledge of the details says the New York Knicks have agreed to hire David Fizdale as their new coach.
The former Memphis Grizzlies coach will replace Jeff Hornacek, who was fired last month after two seasons.
The Knicks then conducted a lengthy search before agreeing Thursday to a deal in principle with Fizdale, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was not officially announced.
ESPN first reported the agreement with Fizdale.
Fizdale led the Grizzlies to the playoffs in his first season before being fired early last season following a clash with star center Marc Gasol.
That did little to diminish the respect of Fizdale, who had been an assistant to Erik Spoelstra in Miami when the Heat won two NBA championships and developed strong relationships with superstars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
The Knicks will hope he will have the same effect on their young team, which has missed the playoffs the past five seasons and could struggle again next season while All-Star Kristaps Porzingis recovers from a torn knee ligament.
Fizdale went 43-39 and led the Grizzlies to the playoffs in his lone full season in Memphis. He lasted just 19 games into the following season, when Gasol publicly objected to being left on the bench in the fourth quarter of a game.
Fizdale now becomes the 11th Knicks coach since Jeff Van Gundy resigned in the 2001-02 season.
----------
