Lakers: David Fizdale is expected to be hired as a new assistant coach.
With Jason Kidd now in Dallas, the Lakers are hiring another former head coach with ties to LeBron James to take his place.
David Fizdale, former coach of the Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks, is expected to be the next new assistant for the Lakers under Frank Vogel, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to Southern California News Group. It was first reported by ESPN.
Fizdale is an L.A. native who has nearly two decades of coaching experience in the NBA. Perhaps his most relevant resume section is his work as an assistant in Miami, where he was a part of the 2012 and 2013 championship Heat teams under Erik Spoelstra. It was this role that helped him gain a reputation as a strong communicator with star players, especially with James.
That role specifically is something the Lakers are looking to replace: Kidd, who officially accepted a head coaching job for the Mavericks this week, was regarded as the star whisperer on staff. James in particular has always spoken warmly of Fizdale during his Lakers tenure.
“I know Coach Fiz is a great coach, great communicator,” James said in 2020 when Fizdale was fired from the Knicks. “He just tries to motivate his players.”
As a head coach, Fizdale has enjoyed less success with a 71-134 record and being fired twice in the middle of his second season. His firing in Memphis was tied to chemistry issues with the Grizzlies franchise star at the time: Marc Gasol.
It’s reasonable, however, to view both situations as disadvantageous for Fizdale, who coached the Grizzlies in one playoff series as the core was aging out of competitiveness, and who was brought to the Knicks to coach star free agents who never arrived. Gasol, who is under contract next year with the Lakers, said that he and Fizdale were able to speak privately about what happened in Memphis with more perspective.
“The only thing is you live, you learn and you move on and things don’t happen again,” Gasol said in 2018. “To me, that’s what’s important is we both learn from last season. We’re both better professionals, better people and that’s what’s the most important thing.”
Fizdale could help the Lakers’ offense get more creative next season: The team was ranked No. 24 in offensive rating last year (109.8) and struggled despite having the No. 1-ranked defense. Fizdale was one of the people who helped revamp Miami’s offense with James in the title runs — and while James is older, Fizdale’s experience finding ways to use him stands as perhaps his most attractive attribute.
ESPN reported that Fizdale had been pursued for other lead assistant jobs in the league. He has done work as an analyst for the network for the past two years.