New York Knicks: Dwyane Wade praises the changing culture

Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade knows there’s a change in perception for the New York Knicks, and it starts with the head coach, David Fizdale.

The New York Knicks have undergone changes for the past decade that attempted to reshape the franchise. Whether it was the Amar’e Stoudemire signing, the Carmelo Anthony trade or the hiring of Phil Jackson as president of basketball operations, the foundation faced impact.

However, the positive results on paper led to just three playoff appearances—the last of which happened in 2013. Organizational-wide changes have transpired since, but there’s a different perception five years later, with a new front office, head coach and a youthful roster.

The man in charge of the staff, David Fizdale, who was hired in May, has captained the change. He owns a player’s coach identity, which first developed as an assistant with the Miami Heat.

From 2008-16, Fizdale worked with Dwyane Wade, who’s on the same Heat squad that faces the Knicks Wednesday. In an interview with The New York Daily News, the future Hall of Famer expressed sentiment towards New York’s changing culture, and noted the 44-year-old coach as the reason behind it (h/t SNY):

"“Players around the league want to play for Fiz,” Wade said in an exclusive interview with the New York Daily News. “Now that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen right away because things happen – guys stay in certain places or they go team up with someone else. But if you ask every player around the league who is the coach they want to play for, Fiz’s name would come up.”"

If 2018-19 matches or exceeds the various expectations for the Knicks and Fizdale, maybe this magic works as soon as the next free agent period.

As Wade noted, solidifying the Knicks’ positive perception may not happen overnight. It will take current players staying and others joining from around the league; maybe that results in a high-profile acquisition in July 2019, when president Steve Mills and Co. have over $30 million to spend.

Even with this and an injured Kristaps Porzingis, Fizdale might be the selling point for prospective free agents in eight months. If big names like Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard or Jimmy Butler want to play for him, 2019 will become a fruitful turning point.

It’s still only four games into the former headman of the Grizzlies’ tenure, sure, but the offseason, training camp and preseason passed without negatives. The early returns are there, but with 78 games to go, there’s a long road ahead before his impact plays into off-the-court business.