Knicks announce hiring of Fizdale as new coach
David Fizdale has been hired as coach of the Knicks, saying he is hoping to “build the type of winning team the passionate fans of New York will be proud of.”
The Knicks announced the hiring Monday after agreeing to terms with the former Memphis Grizzlies coach last week. They plan to introduce Fizdale at a news conference Tuesday.
Fizdale went 50-51 with the Grizzlies, leading them to the postseason in his only full season before getting fired early last year after clashing with star center Marc Gasol.
He becomes the 29th coach in franchise history, hoping to lead the Knicks out of what is now a five-year postseason drought.
He replaces Jeff Hornacek, who lasted two seasons in New York before getting fired hours after the season finale.
The Knicks cited Fizdale’s leadership, experience and expertise in player development in a news release announcing the hiring. Fizdale spent eight years as an assistant in Miami, helping the Heat win two NBA titles.
“I appreciate the enormous responsibility it is to coach the Knicks and am ready to give my all to build the type of winning team the passionate fans of New York will be proud of,” he said in the release.
Fizdale, 43, also was an assistant for four seasons in Atlanta and one in Golden State.
Van Gundy out as Pistons coach, president
DETROIT » Stan Van Gundy will not return to the Detroit Pistons
tons as coach or president of basketball operations.
The Pistons announced Van Gundy’s departure Monday, with owner Tom Gores saying it was a difficult decision. He said Van Gundy wanted to return for a fifth season with the team.
“I am grateful to Stan for everything he’s done for the Pistons and for the city of Detroit,” Gore said. “He rebuilt the culture of our basketball team, re-instilled a winning attitude and work ethic, and took us to the playoffs two years ago. He went all-in from Day One to positively impact this franchise and this community.
“But over the past two seasons our team has not progressed, and we decided that a change is necessary to regain our momentum,” Gores said.
The Pistons went 39-43 this season, missing the playoffs for the third time in four years under Van Gundy. They’ve made the postseason just once in the past nine seasons, and even a blockbuster trade for Blake Griffin wasn’t enough to salvage 2017-18.
A decade ago, the Pistons were one of the game’s most respected organizations after reaching the Eastern Conference finals six straight years and winning the NBA title in 2004. They sank quickly into irrelevance after that. Detroit missed the playoffs the final five seasons of Joe Dumars’ tenure as team president, and Gores who took over as owner in 2011 eventually brought Van Gundy in, giving him authority in the front office in addition to his coaching duties.
The Pistons made the playoffs in Van Gundy’s second season at the helm, but they couldn’t build on that breakthrough. This past season was particularly disappointing because it may have been the most productive of center Andre Drummond’s career.