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 | |
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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). Fizdale has worked as a coach for many NBA teams. He was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Utah Jazz. He also served as the head coach for the New York Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies. Before that, he was an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, and the Miami Heat. He helped the Miami Heat win two NBA championships in 2012 and 2013.
Contents
David Fizdale's Basketball Journey
Early Life and College Years
David Fizdale was born in Los Angeles, California. He loved basketball from a young age. He played as a point guard for his high school team at John C. Fremont High School. After high school, he went to the University of San Diego. There, he studied communications and sociology. In his final year of college, he was recognized as one of the best players. He was named to the All-WCC Team.
Starting His Coaching Career
After college, Fizdale began his coaching career. He started as an assistant coach at his old college, the University of San Diego. He coached there from 1998 to 2002. Then, he moved to Fresno State University and worked as an assistant coach for two more seasons.
Becoming an NBA Assistant Coach
From 2003 to 2016, David Fizdale was an assistant coach for several NBA teams. He worked with the Golden State Warriors, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Miami Heat. While with the Heat, he coached a special team called "Team Shaq" in 2013. This was during the NBA All-Star Weekend's Rising Stars Challenge. His team played against "Team Chuck," coached by Mike Budenholzer.
Leading as a Head Coach
On May 29, 2016, Fizdale became the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies. In his first season, the Grizzlies had a good record of 43 wins and 39 losses. They even made it to the Western Conference playoffs. However, he was later fired from the team in November 2017.
In May 2018, Fizdale was hired as the head coach for the New York Knicks. He signed a four-year contract with them. But after a tough start to the 2019-2020 season, he was fired by the Knicks in December 2019.
Recent Coaching Roles
After his time as a head coach, Fizdale continued his career as an assistant. In September 2021, he joined the Los Angeles Lakers as an assistant coach. In June 2022, he took on a new role as the associate general manager for the Utah Jazz. This meant he helped manage the team's operations.
In June 2023, David Fizdale returned to coaching. He was hired as an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns. He continues to work with the Suns as of July 2025.
Personal Life
David Fizdale is married to Natasha Sen. He also has a son from a previous relationship. Natasha's father, Roy Singer, lives in Australia. Natasha was born in Delhi, India, and her mother, Samira Sen, lives in Canada.
See also
In Spanish: David Fizdale para niños
