Suns GM Brian Gregory working on proving to fans he was hired on experience not friendship
“I’m going to be held accountable to the success of this team,” Brian Gregory said.
Phoenix Suns assistant David Fizdale has been an NBA head coach – twice.
Take that for data.
He didn’t last two full seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies (50-51 record) or New York Knicks (21-83), but Fizdale has continued as an assistant for the last three seasons with the latter two in Phoenix for two different head coaches — Frank Vogel and Mike Budenholzer.
The Suns are now looking for their fourth head coach in four seasons after firing Budenholzer following one season that ended with a 36-46 record.
Phoenix missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019-20, which was the last time they had a losing record.
Maybe Fizdale is the one who can bring head coaching stability to the Suns.
He’s one of several candidates for the job along with Cleveland Cavaliers assistants Jordan Ott and Johnnie Bryant, Oklahoma City Thunder assistant Dave Bliss, Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Dallas Mavericks assistant Sean Sweeney, Miami Heat assistant Chris Quinn, Brooklyn Nets assistant Steve Hetzel and New Orleans Pelicans assistant James Borrego, sources confirmed with The Arizona Republic last week.
The Suns are the only NBA team without a head coach as the Denver Nuggets removed the interim tag from David Adelman, who replaced a fired Michael Malone late in the regular season. Denver lost to top overall seed Oklahoma City in the second round in seven games.
A segment of Suns fans called for Fizdale to replace Budenholzer during the season. He was well respected by the players and has a proven track record for teaching defense.
Phoenix struggled in that department this season, ranking 27th in the league in defensive rating, but Fizdale still has a solid reputation for his ability to coach on that end going back to his years as an assistant with the Miami Heat when they won two NBA championships (2012, 2013).
League sources informed The Republic that Phoenix has placed great emphasis on asking candidates about their defensive philosophy, defensive strategies, game plans and coverage schemes.
If Fizdale doesn’t land the Suns head coaching job, there’s a chance he’ll remain in Phoenix as an assistant coach. Only Fizdale and Borrego have previous NBA head coaching experience.
First-year head coaches, particularly younger ones, typically have a veteran coach on staff. The 50-year-old Fizdale is certainly that as his resume goes back to 2003 with the Golden State Warriors.
When Ishbia fired Vogel after the 2023-24 season that ended with the Minnesota Timberwolves sweeping the Suns in the first round, Vogel’s staff was let go as well.
Phoenix hired Budenholzer, but after he missed out on candidates to fill his staff, Fizdale rejoined the team on a new deal, league sources informed The Republic.
A year later, the Suns let Budenholzer go, but they’ve kept assistants from Budenholzer’s staff as they’re still under contract with the team, league sources informed The Republic.
The Suns have assistants who can work out draft prospects and current players on the team with the possibility of being retained assistant under whoever is hired as head coach.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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