New York Knicks: David Fizdale raves over interaction with Bernard King

On MSG Networks’ “Conference Room B,” New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale gushed over what team legend Bernard King told Kevin Knox, and how it was an education for himself.

Upon arrival, New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale was handed the NBA’s youngest team. With a roster of just two players at age 30 and above, he’s had to lead the development of rookies and sophomores like Frank Ntilikina, Damyean Dotson, Mitchell Robinson and Allonzo Trier.

Part of Fizdale’s tutelage has come from bringing in Knicks’ legends to speak with the players. Patrick Ewing and Willis Reed were among them, as well as Bernard King, who once scored 60 points on Christmas Day.

Per MSG Networks, on Monday’s episode of Conference Room B, Fizdale will elaborate on the developing relationship between King and Kevin Knox, which the 43-year-old also finds as a lesson for himself:

"“Bernard King is a fascinating man. His approach to how he developed his game and just sitting there listening him talk to Kevin Knox was really interesting. And how meticulous he went about building the player Bernard King. It was an education for me. And it was just fun to sit there and watch a legend like that interact with a 19 year old kid who has no idea what he’s getting into.”"

King visited the Knicks in a November game against the Hawks, in Atlanta, where the team documented his appearance at a pre-game practice:

Fizdale also said he idolized King as a kid:

King played for the Knicks from 1982-87, topping out at a career-high 32.9 points per game in the 1984-85 season. He entered the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.

As for Knox, it’s a valuable experience for someone as young as he is. Few NBA players are just 19 years old, one year out of college, so any kind of tutelage from players of the past and present can help him become a better pro.

Whatever Knox is learning, he has surged since Dec. 1, averaging 16.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 39.2 percent from behind the arc. That includes a 26-point, 15-rebound game against the Charlotte Hornets.

The rookie forward may receive inspiration from King, but Fizdale has his own figure he looks up to: Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.

Fizdale sees a comparison between him and Tomlin, with the issues they deal with as head coaches:

"“There’s a lot of people that I would lean on for inspiration. I was lucky enough to meet Mike Tomlin through Scott Perry and I’m a big football fanatic. He’s a natural leader and just to spend time with him and watch him lead his team and teach his team, as a guy sitting in a similar seat dealing with a lot of similar issues, I found a lot of admiration and inspiration from him.”"

Fizdale’s conversation with Brandon “Jinx” Jenkins on Conference Room B, which features conversations with sports and entertainment personalities, can be seen after Monday’s game between the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns at 10:30 p.m. ET on MSG Networks.