The Orlando Magic
Fizdale, Udoka next on interview list
will interview former Memphis Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale soon for their vacant coaching job.
The Orlando Magic will interview former Memphis Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale soon for their vacant coaching job, NBA sources told the Orlando Sentinel.
Fizdale is the third known candidate for the position, joining San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Ime Udoka and Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach David Vanterpool. Vanterpool, 45, interviewed with the Magic on Monday, while Udoka, 40, is scheduled to interview later this week.
Fizdale, 43, should be familiar to Magic fans.
He coached the Grizzlies during the 2016-17 season, amassing a 43-39 record and losing a firstround playoff series to the Spurs in six games.
With Fizdale still at the helm, Memphis opened this past season with a 7-4 record but — burdened with injuries, including an injury to
point guard Mike Conley Jr. — then lost eight consecutive games. In the eighth consecutive defeat, Fizdale benched star center Marc Gasol for the entire fourth quarter, upsetting Gasol. The Grizzlies fired Fizdale the next day.
Before Fizdale joined the Grizzlies, he spent eight seasons as a Miami Heat assistant coach, the last two as the Heat’s assistant head coach. Fizdale had prior assistant-coaching stints with the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks.
Udoka recently completed his sixth consecutive season as a Spurs assistant coach.
A former swingman, Udoka’s seven-year NBA playing career included stints with the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Trail Blazers, Spurs and Sacramento Kings.
Undrafted out of Portland State University, Udoka also played in the NBA Development League, other U.S. minor leagues and for professional teams in Spain and France. He played for Nigeria’s national team in international tournaments.
Orlando is one of five teams with a coaching vacancy.
The Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns also are looking for new head coaches and will compete with the Magic for potential hires, including Fizdale, Udoka and Vanterpool.
The Magic created their coaching vacancy when they fired Frank Vogel on April 12 following two seasons on the job.