David Fizdale is a player’s coach, known for his ability to relate to players and get the best out of them. How will this help the New York Knicks?
Mere weeks into his tenure as head coach of the New York Knicks, David Fizdale took Frank Nitlikina, Damyean Dotson and Emmanuel Mudiay to TD Garden for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
We are witnessing Fizdale bonding with his new soldiers. He vowed to venture to the other side of the world to meet with Kristaps Porzingis as soon as he accepted the commanding role of the Knicks.
When you sign a contract with the most important basketball team in the country, taking time to meet with the star player is paramount.
He’s conducting what seems like a recruiting trip, but with players he has on his roster. I’m here to let you know: I’m for it. Good for Fizdale getting out of his comfort zone to understand the thought process of his under-25 players.
Coaches that demand respect from players—the true disciplinarians—are rarely the ones who succeed in the NBA. They’re more likely to succeed in college—see: Coach K, Jim Boeheim, Bobby Knight.
Every player that has played for Gregg Popovich has talked about how much they love him, even when he gets on their case.
Fizdale’s Ability To Schmooze
Fizdale is taking his prized assets (Porzingis and Ntilikina) and showing them love. This is the type of coach Fizdale is. Players just love him.
While I hate to bring him into this conversation, LeBron James has expressed his admiration for Fizdale. He even took an interview in Memphis as a gesture of respect to the man. If that’s not a tale of this guy’s relationship building skills, I’m not sure what to tell you.
Fizdale is the coach of New York City, not just the New York Knicks. This team is New York’s team. Say what you want about the Yankees, but the Knicks are the only franchise that plays in the heart of the city. Fizdale has started off on the right foot, getting to know his young core.
The Knicks are the only team in New York, where everybody comes together to root for them. If you bring up the Brooklyn Nets in my comments, I will gladly laugh at you.
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David Fizdale is definitely doing his part to bring the team together. These are the necessary steps to make New York the Mecca of Basketball it once was.