Sports

David Fizdale fired by Knicks in ‘sickening’ ending

Knicks coach David Fizdale was axed Friday afternoon in the typical dysfunctional way the organization does things.

Fizdale ran a two-hour practice, talked to the media and said he was about to make major starting-lineup changes … then he lost his job.

Fizdale was relieved with a 21-83 overall record in a season-plus — his stint ending with an eight-game losing steak after back-to-back, 30-plus-point defeats for the first time in club history.

The Knicks — a ghastly 4-18 this season and on pace to win just 15 games — announced their former G-League coach, Mike Miller, would take the reins of this mess.

Keith Smart, Fizdale’s trusty top assistant, also was let go. The Post reported Thursday that if Fizdale were to be fired, Smart would likely go with him.





Miller joined the staff this season — possibly for this moment. G-League assistant Keith Bogans is being promoted to Miller’s staff, according to The Athletic.

Since Knicks president Steve Mills rejoined the organization in 2013, he already has run through five coaches — Mike Woodson, Derek Fisher, Kurt Rambis (the interim coach after Fisher was fired), Jeff Hornacek and now Fizdale, who had two years left on his pact.

The latest firing puts Mills and general manager Scott Perry squarely in James Dolan’s eye of the storm, with no one else left as a scapegoat.

“It’s a lousy roster and Mike isn’t going to win with that group either,’’ one NBA personnel man said. “They should make Steve Mills coach the team.”





Mills and Perry were present at practice and laughed and joked with Fizdale for a couple of minutes when it was done. Before practice, a players-only meeting was held to rally spirit around Fizdale, according to The Athletic, and players were all but gone from the facility when Fizdale was informed.

Knicks management was looking for improvement and progress more than a win-loss record, and the past two games — a 44-point loss at Milwaukee and a 37-point home loss to the Nuggets — were major backslides. The development of their young players, particularly 2018 lottery pick Kevin Knox, was not evident either.

The odd axing is reminiscent of Mills and Perry firing Hornacek, after the 2017-18 season finale in Cleveland, upon landing at Westchester Airport and taking him into a conference room at 2 a.m.





The firing reflects poorly on Mills and Perry, who were ecstatic at hiring Fizdale over Mike Budenholzer in May 2018.

Mills and Perry spent $74 million on salaries before the season with seven free-agent signings, yet the team is last in scoring (100.5 points per game) and second-worst in 3-point defense, allowing teams to shoot 38.6 percent.

Fizdale’s record was 2-10 in the 12 games since the president and GM held a shocking postgame press conference following an ugly loss to the Cavaliers at the Garden on Nov. 10, putting the coach on notice.

“I don’t think about that stuff,’’ Fizdale said after Friday’s practice — and before being fired — when asked if he was confident he would get more time. “Even if we were on a 16-game winning streak, I would be going about it the same damn way. Just focused on that. I think it keeps my mind clear and it allows me to keep them in a good space where they’re connected and that they’re fighting for each other.”





After Thursday night’s 129-92 loss to the Nuggets, Fizdale called the performance “sickening,” an apt description for this season. The loss came just three days after the 132-88 loss to the Bucks.

Fizdale’s .201 winning percentage goes down as the worst of any coach in franchise history.

When Fizdale was hired, his skills in player-development and as a communicator were lauded. There was belief he would change the franchise’s culture and connect with star free agents.

Instead, the Knicks kept losing, didn’t attract a star — and Fizdale couldn’t even reach the All-Star break of his second season with the team before getting fired.

Now it’s Miller’s turn. The 55-year-old spent four years at the helm of the Westchester Knicks, posting a 108-92 record. He was the 2017-18 G-League coach of the year. Miller, out of the Spurs’ system, is used to winning — which makes him an odd fit with the Knicks.

For more on the Knicks, listen to the latest episode of the “Big Apple Buckets” podcast:





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