Fizdale set to talk with Knicks

David Fizdale, considered by some as a leading candidate for the Knicks, is scheduled to interview next week for their vacant coaching position.

The 43-year-old revealed that news to reporters in Oakland on Friday while visiting a buddy, Steve Kerr, at a Warriors practice. Fizdale said he’s also interviewing with the Suns for their vacant position next week.

Fizdale was a longtime assistant in Miami where he won two titles behind LeBron James. He was briefly the head coach of the Grizzlies before being fired just 19 games into last season because he didn’t get along with star Marc Gasol. In his only other season with Memphis, Fizdale guided the team to the playoffs and a first-round defeat.

The Knicks have already contacted the representatives of another candidate, Jerry Stackhouse, and are expected to do the same (if they haven’t already) with Mark Jackson, David Blatt and Jay Wright. The Suns were reportedly high on Fizdale but then received permission from the Hawks to interview Mike Budenholzer, who now is more likely to land the job.

New York’s front office duo of Steve Mills and Scott Perry said Thursday they desire a coach who can understand today’s players. Fizdale perhaps fits into that category because he’s young, seemingly flexible and got along well with James and Dwyane Wade. But he also rubbed Gasol the wrong way.

“Today’s players are very different from yesterday’s players. So you have to be a person that understands who these guys are, where they come from, what their basketball journey is,” Mills said. “(You have to) understand the complexity of today’s NBA game from an analytic standpoint, from a physical development standpoint, from a player development standpoint. A good coach is willing to embrace all those things.”