David Fizdale was born on June 16, 1974, in Los Angeles, California. He attended Fremont High School, where he played basketball as a point guard. After high school, Fizdale went on to pursue his college education at the University of San Diego. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and a minor in sociology.
Before becoming a head coach, Fizdale gained valuable experience as an assistant coach at various NBA teams. He started his coaching career as an assistant at the NBA level in Atlanta and later moved on to the Golden State Warriors. Fizdale then landed a long-running assistant coach position with the Miami Heat organization, where he worked under head coach Erik Spoelstra for several years.
In 2016, Fizdale became the head coach for the Memphis Grizzlies. During his time with the Grizzlies, he made a name for himself as a passionate and outspoken coach. In 2018, he took on a new challenge as the head coach for the New York Knicks.
One of the most memorable moments of Fizdale's coaching career came during his first NBA postseason series as a head coach. After a game against the San Antonio Spurs, Fizdale went viral for his post-game rant about the officiating. The rant was punctuated by his now-famous statement, "take that for data."
David Fizdale is married to Natasha Sen. He also has a son named Kyle Jackson from a previous relationship. In addition to his coaching career, Fizdale is known for his charitable work and involvement in various community initiatives.
Throughout his coaching career, David Fizdale has left a lasting impact on the NBA. Known for his passion, dedication, and innovative coaching style, Fizdale has inspired countless players and fellow coaches. His willingness to speak out on important issues and advocate for change has made him a respected figure in the basketball world.
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