The very moment former New York Knicks head coach, Jeff Hornacek, got into an altercation with big-man Joakim Noah, the season and his job were both destined for failure. Hornacek was preemptively fired after a two-year stint in New York, and the Knicks were once again on the hunt to change the narrative of their ever-floundering organization. The man to help get it done, David Fizdale.
The New York Knicks are finally making good business decisions!
Several months after the firing of Hornacek, Kevin Knox was drafted in the first-round with Mitchell Robinson close behind. In addition to the two young phenoms, Fizdale was brought on to help change the course of the Knicks for the foreseeable future. Fizdale was one of many candidates, but his reputability and adaptability with former players was ultimately the deciding factor.
Having a coach that can talk to a player one-on-one and be a friend but also a disciplinarian was the point of this hire. His style of coaching revolves around trust, and he has already begun developing the chemistry with his players. Fiz went as far as to travel to Latvia to spend time with his star forward, Kristaps Porzingis.
Fizdale promised the Knicks he would be different and he has not shied away from that idea:
The level of commitment the Knicks’ new coach as displayed is exactly what was necessary for his players to finally believe in their leader, despite the issues that arose in 2017 with Hornacek.
Fizdale didn’t only go to Latvia to be with Porzingis, but rather to begin showing him how Knox is developing and what he should be looking forward to in the upcoming season. Things are off to a great start, and the talent that’s beginning to bleed through the orange and blue jerseys is becoming apparent.
Knox is a young player, only 18 years-old, with a lot to learn and a ton of support behind him. He has a coach that will pick up him when he’s down and physically will him back to life. Rookie speed-bumps are unavoidable, but having a coach that can lessen the blow of each one is a necessity for a young player to reach their full potential.