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David Fizdale

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David Fizdale
Fizdale in 2009
Phoenix Suns
PositionAssistant Coach
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1974-06-16) June 16, 1974 (age 50)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Career information
High schoolJohn C. Fremont
(Los Angeles, California)
CollegeSan Diego (1992–1996)
NBA draft1996: undrafted
PositionPoint guard
Coaching career1998–present
Career history
As coach:
1998–2002San Diego (assistant)
2002–2004Fresno State (assistant)
2003–2004Golden State Warriors (assistant)
2004–2008Atlanta Hawks (assistant)
2008–2016Miami Heat (assistant)
2016–2017Memphis Grizzlies
2018–2019New York Knicks
2021–2022Los Angeles Lakers (assistant)
2023–presentPhoenix Suns (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
As player:

As assistant coach:

David Sean Fizdale (born June 16, 1974) is an American professional basketball coach who is an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He previously was an associate general manager for the Utah Jazz, an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, the head coach for the New York Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies, and was an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors and the Miami Heat. He won two championships with the Heat in 2012 and 2013.

Career

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Born in Los Angeles, Fizdale attended Fremont High School in Los Angeles, where he played as a point guard for the school's basketball team.[1] He subsequently attended college at the University of San Diego, where he graduated with a B.A. in communications and a minor in sociology. During his senior year, he was also named a member of the All-WCC Team. After a couple years removed from graduating, Fizdale would begin his coaching career by first being an assistant coach for his alma mater from 1998 until 2002 before joining Fresno State University as an assistant coach there for a couple of seasons afterward.

Between 2003 and 2016, Fizdale was an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks, and Miami Heat. During his tenure with the Heat, Fizdale coached "Team Shaq", a squad selected by Shaquille O'Neal, at the 2013 Rising Stars Challenge during the NBA All-Star Weekend.[2] His team was defeated 163–135, by Charles Barkley's "Team Chuck", coached by then San Antonio Spurs' assistant coach Mike Budenholzer. After the reshuffle of the Heat's coaching staff, Fizdale became an associate head coach after Ron Rothstein decided to retire from his coaching career and Bob McAdoo was assigned to the scouting staff.

On May 29, 2016, Fizdale was named as the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies.[3] He led the Grizzlies to a 43–39 record in the 2016–17 season, reaching the Western Conference playoffs. After a 7–12 start to the 2017–18 season, including eight consecutive losses, and a publicized fourth-quarter benching of Marc Gasol, Fizdale was fired from the team on November 27, 2017.[4]

On May 7, 2018, Fizdale was named as the head coach of the New York Knicks signing a four-year deal with the organization.[5] On December 6, 2019, he was fired by the Knicks after a 4–18 start to their season.[6][7]

On September 15, 2021, Fizdale was hired by the Los Angeles Lakers as an assistant coach.[8]

On June 29, 2022, Fizdale was hired as the associate general manager for the Utah Jazz.[9]

On June 21, 2023, Fizdale was hired by the Phoenix Suns as an assistant coach.[10] Fizdale would later get removed from the team's coaching staff on May 12, 2024, alongside the rest of Frank Vogel's coaching staff following their hiring of new head coach Mike Budenholzer.[11] However, after an attempt to promote him into a front office position later in the month,[12] as well as receive interest in joining the Chicago Bulls,[13] Fizdale was reported to return to his role as an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns on May 29.[14] His return to the Suns would be made official on August 6.[15]

Head coaching record

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Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
Memphis 2016–17 82 43 39 .524 3rd in Southwest 6 2 4 .333 Lost in First round
Memphis 2017–18 19 7 12 .368 (fired) — — — — —
New York 2018–19 82 17 65 .207 5th in Atlantic — — — — Missed playoffs
New York 2019–20 22 4 18 .182 (fired) — — — — —
Career 205 71 134 .346   6 2 4 .333  

Personal life

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Fizdale is married to marketer Natasha Sen[16] and has one son from a prior relationship.[17] Natasha's birth father is Roy Singer and he lives in Australia. Natasha was born in Delhi, India and her mother is Samira Sen, who lives in Canada.

References

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  1. ^ "Returning Starters Make Santa Clara Tourney Favorite". Los Angeles Times. June 18, 1991. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  2. ^ Ira Winderman (February 14, 2013). "Heat assistant Fizdale to coach All-Star Rising Stars". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  3. ^ "Grizzlies name David Fizdale Head Coach". NBA.com. May 29, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  4. ^ "Grizzlies relieve David Fizdale of head coaching duties". NBA.com. November 27, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  5. ^ "New York Knicks name David Fizdale new coach". NBA.com. May 7, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  6. ^ "Knicks Relieve David Fizdale of Head Coaching Duties". NBA.com. December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  7. ^ "Knicks fire David Fizdale after Eastern Conference-worst 4-18 mark". ESPN.com. December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  8. ^ "Lakers Announce Additions to Coaching and Training Staffs". NBA.com. September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  9. ^ "Utah Jazz Hire David Fizdale as Associate General Manager". NBA.com. June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  10. ^ "SUNS ANNOUNCE COACHING STAFF". NBA.com. June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  11. ^ Voita, John (2024-05-12). "Remaining coaching assistants will not be retained by Mike Budneholzer". Bright Side Of The Sun. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  12. ^ "Suns, Budenholzer agree to terms on 5-year deal: Sources". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  13. ^ "Eastern Rumors: Capela, Fizdale, Bulls, Randle, Heat". 20 May 2024.
  14. ^ https://x.com/wojespn/status/1795821345416356152 [bare URL]
  15. ^ "Suns Announce Head Coach Mike Budenholzer's Coaching Staff". NBA.com.
  16. ^ "Coach Fizdale marries Natasha Sen in San Diego". SB Nation. August 24, 2014. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  17. ^ "David Fizdale Coach File". NBA.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
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