TORONTO – More than six years removed from his poor career as Knicks head coach, David Fizdale blamed his poor record on the front office.
“If I did it again, I would have fought more to build a team early and not cash in on my record,” Fizdale said on FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back” show. “That’s the hardest part for coaches when you agree to the tanking.”
Fizdale said the front office – led at the time by Steve Mills and Scott Perry – was on the losing end of drafting Zion Williamson or Ja Morant. The Knicks selected RJ Barrett at No. 3 and, according to Fizdale, were convinced that summer that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving “were definitely coming to us.”
“That didn’t work out,” Fizdale said.
Instead, the Knicks signed Julius Randle, Bobby Portis and Taj Gibson. Fizdale started 4-18 during the 2019-20 season and was canned. His last record with the Knicks was 21-83, the worst winning percentage in franchise history.
“Losing all those damn games,” Fizdale said. “Donate my record.”
Despite Fizdale’s excuses, the Knicks were much better after he left with largely the same roster. Mike Miller was a much more respectable 17-27 as interim coach.
Then Tom Thibodeau took over and led the team to No. 4 in the East.
Fizdale hasn’t had a head coaching job since his failed stint with the Knicks. The 51-year-old has been an assistant with the Lakers and Suns, but is not currently on the staff.
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