Grizzlies fire coach after he sits All-Star

The Grizzlies, 7-12 and losers of eight straight, fired head coach David Fizdale on Monday, a day after he benched center Marc Gasol for the fourth quarter of the team’s loss to Brooklyn.

Gasol, given a maximum contract in 2015, leads the team in points, rebounds and assists. He was an All-Star last year in Fizdale’s inaugural season.

“It’s a first for me, trust me, and I don’t like it one bit,” Gasol said of sitting. “I’m more (ticked) than I can show and frustrated. If I’m not on the floor, I’m not valued. I’m sure (the coaching staff ) knew that would hurt me the most.”

Fizdale, a Warriors assistant coach in 2003-04, went 50-51 in charge of the Grizzlies.

The move caught the NBA by surprise.

“I need some answers. Feels like my man was a fall guy,” LeBron James wrote on Twitter.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said he was shocked and called Fizdale one of the NBA’s best coaches.

“He’s a brilliant guy,” Kerr said. “He’s got an edge to him. He’s tough. He’s smart. Their whole team is injured, Mike Conley is out. This is what happens, you lose when your best players are out and when your whole team is wiped out. It caught me off guard.”

General manager Chris Wallace said he made the move “after a thorough evaluation.” He named assistant J.B. Bickerstaff interim head coach.