PHOENIX – The final round of interviews for the Phoenix Suns head coaching job is beginning, with a surprise name making the cuts. Last year assistant coach David Fizdale is reportedly one of the finalists for the job, according to ESPN’s Marc J. Spears. Reports have indicated that the franchise wanted a young, first-time head coach to lead team out of the embarrassing 36-46 season last year.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Fizdale isn’t a first-time head coach and has been around the league for over two decades. However, Spears has mentioned that Fizdale has the support from the players, leading him to make the final stage of interviews.
Jan 29, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns assistant coach David Fizdale against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Spears on Fizdale’s chances for Suns job:
“Suns associate head coach and former NBA head coach David Fizdale is expected to be a part of a third round of interviews for the Suns head coach job. The former Grizzlies and Knicks head coach has the support of some key Suns players as well, sources said.”
NBA Insider Chris Haynes on Fizdale:
Apr 7, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach David Fizdale talks to guard Malik Monk (11) during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Fizdale was a head coach for two organizations from 2016-2020. The first two years were with the Memphis Grizzlies, finishing with a 50-51 record, quickly being fired during his second season. The New York Knicks took a chance with Fizdale and had the same result, firing him early in his second season with the team after going 21-83 with the franchise.
The 50-year-old was brought back to coaching in 2021, when hired as an assistant by Frank Vogel for the Los Angeles Lakers. After Vogel’s firing from the Lakers, him and Fizdale moved to Phoenix after the team fired Monty Williams.
Vogel flared out after a year, but Fizdale remained with the new staff of head coach Mike Budenholzer. And again, after Budenholzer’s firing, Fizdale is expected to remain on the coaching staff regardless if he is hired or not to be the team’s next head coach.
Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer (second from left) speaks with GM James Jones (left-right) owner Mat Ishbia and assistant coach David Fizdale during practice at the Verizon 5G Performance Center in Phoenix on Oct. 1, 2024. Syndication: Arizona Republic
Suns fans will likely not be thrilled to hear about a potential Fizdale promotion after back-to-back lackluster season with him on the staff. If the general manager Brian Gregory and his staff hire Fizdale to be the next head coach, it’ll go against everything that owner Mat Ishbia stated in his end-of-season press conference.
Ishbia said change was coming, and the Suns next head coach will be someone who represents Phoenix’s best qualities. Fizdale has earned the notoriety of being a player’s coach, because of his famous 2017 Game 2 postgame “Take that for Data” rant. Throughout his coaching career, Fizdale has been a hard-nosed leader that fights for his players.
Regardless, the proclaim that change is coming and hiring someone that was on the staff for the past two years seems like a slap in the face to fans across the Valley. Fans want a fresh face to inspire hope that the team will return to the heights that they were at only a few years ago.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
