Grizzlies (7-12) fire Fizdale
MEMPHIS — The Memphis Grizzlies fired Coach David
Fizdale on Monday, with the team at 7-12 and a day after he benched center Marc
Gasol for the fourth quarter of an eighth consecutive loss.
General Manager Chris Wallace announced the move. Associate head coach J.B.
Bickerstaff has been named interim coach.
“After a thorough evaluation, I decided a change in course was necessary to move forward and provide the team and organization its best chance at success this season and beyond,” Wallace said in a statement.
Gasol, given a maximum deal by the Grizzlies in July 2015, sat throughout the fourth quarter of a 98-88 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. Gasol leads the Grizzlies in points, rebounds and assists, and he was an All-Star in Fizdale’s inaugural season. But the center spent plenty of time after the game making it clear to reporters how upset he was at sitting out a full quarter.
“It’s a first for me, trust me, and I don’t like it one bit,” Gasol said. “I’m more [ticked] than I can show and frustrated.”
Fizdale explained his decision before Gasol spoke in the locker room and said he simply was trying to win a game while sticking with his reserves. Fizdale said taking a risk as head coach means sometimes upsetting a player or two. “If I’m not on the floor, I’m not valued,” Gasol said. “I’m sure [the coaching staff] knew that would hurt me the most.”
Fizdale became the franchise’s 13th head coach on May 29, 2016, and he went 50-51.
The Grizzlies reached the postseason for a seventh consecutive time in Fizdale’s first season, when they lost to the San Antonio Spurs. Fizdale was fined $30,000 by the NBA for a rant over officiating after a loss in Game 2.