David Fizdale facts for kids
Fizdale in 2009
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| Phoenix Suns | |
|---|---|
| Assistant Coach | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | June 16, 1974 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| High school | John C. Fremont (Los Angeles, California) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Career information | |
| College | San Diego (1992–1996) |
| NBA Draft | 1996 / Undrafted |
| Coaching career | 1998–present |
| League | NBA |
| Career history | |
| As coach: | |
| 1998–2002 | San Diego (assistant) |
| 2002–2004 | Fresno State (assistant) |
| 2003–2004 | Golden State Warriors (assistant) |
| 2004–2008 | Atlanta Hawks (assistant) |
| 2008–2016 | Miami Heat (assistant) |
| 2016–2017 | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2018–2019 | New York Knicks |
| 2021–2022 | Los Angeles Lakers (assistant) |
| 2023–present | Phoenix Suns (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As player:
As assistant coach:
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David Sean Fizdale (born June 16, 1974) is an American professional basketball coach. He is currently an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before this, he worked as an associate general manager for the Utah Jazz. Fizdale has also been an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, and Miami Heat. He was also the head coach for the New York Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies. He helped the Miami Heat win two NBA championships in 2012 and 2013.
Contents
Basketball Journey
Early Life and College Play
David Fizdale was born in Los Angeles, California. He went to Fremont High School in Los Angeles. There, he played point guard for the school's basketball team.
After high school, he attended the University of San Diego. He earned a degree in communications and also studied sociology. During his last year in college, he was named to the All-WCC Team, which means he was one of the best players in his college conference.
Starting His Coaching Career
A few years after graduating from college, Fizdale began his coaching career. His first coaching job was as an assistant coach at his old college, the University of San Diego. He worked there from 1998 until 2002. After that, he joined Fresno State University as an assistant coach for two seasons.
Assistant Coach in the NBA
From 2003 to 2016, Fizdale worked as an assistant coach for several NBA teams. He coached for the Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks, and the Miami Heat.
While he was with the Miami Heat, Fizdale got a special chance to coach "Team Shaq." This was a team picked by basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal for the Rising Stars Challenge during the NBA All-Star Weekend in 2013. His team played against "Team Chuck," coached by Mike Budenholzer, and lost the game. Later, Fizdale became an associate head coach for the Heat.
Becoming a Head Coach
On May 29, 2016, David Fizdale became the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies. In his first season, the Grizzlies finished with a record of 43 wins and 39 losses. They even made it to the Western Conference playoffs that year.
However, the next season, the Grizzlies started with a tough record of 7 wins and 12 losses. After a disagreement involving star player Marc Gasol, Fizdale was fired from the team on November 27, 2017.
On May 7, 2018, Fizdale was hired as the head coach for the New York Knicks. He signed a four-year contract with the team. But on December 6, 2019, he was fired by the Knicks after the team started the season with only 4 wins and 18 losses.
Return to Assistant Coaching and Front Office Roles
After his time as a head coach, Fizdale returned to assistant coaching. On September 15, 2021, he was hired as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Then, on June 29, 2022, Fizdale took on a new role. He was hired as the associate general manager for the Utah Jazz. This meant he was working more in the team's front office, helping with decisions about players and the team.
On June 21, 2023, Fizdale joined the Phoenix Suns as an assistant coach. He was briefly removed from the coaching staff in May 2024 when the Suns hired a new head coach. However, after some discussions, it was announced on August 6 that he would return to his role as an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns.
Personal Life
David Fizdale is married to Natasha Sen. He also has one son from a previous relationship. Natasha's father, Roy Singer, lives in Australia. Natasha herself was born in Delhi, India, and her mother, Samira Sen, lives in Canada.
See also
In Spanish: David Fizdale para niños
