OAKLAND–On Monday afternoon, the Memphis Grizzlies shook up the NBA coaching landscape by firing second-year head coach David Fizdale, who is largely viewed as one of the brightest up-and-coming coaches in the league.
Fizdale lead Memphis to a 43-39 record an a first-round playoff exit last season, but injuries and other circumstances hampered the Grizzlies at the beginning of this year, leaving the team at 7-12 through its first 19 games.
Prior to the start of the Warriors’ matchup with the Kings on Monday night, Golden State head coach Steve Kerr addressed Fizdale’s firing, admitting that he was “shocked,” by the news of the dismissal.
“I was shocked today when I read the news,” Kerr said. “I think David Fizdale is one of the best coaches in the league, he’s a brilliant guy. He’s got an edge to him, he’s tough, he’s smart. Their whole team is injured, Mike Conley is out, this is what happens. You lose when your best players are out and your whole team is wiped out. Caught me off guard.”
There’s speculation around the league that Fizdale’s firing was the result of how he handled playing time of Grizzlies’ All-Star Marc Gasol, but Kerr said injuries created a challenging coaching climate for the former Warriors’ assistant.
Fizdale’s first NBA coaching job came as an assistant with Golden State during the 2003-2004 season, and from there, he spent 12 combined seasons as an assistant with the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat. Fizdale was hired in Memphis prior to the start of the 2016 season, but on Monday, he was relieved of his duties.
Kerr said he’s appreciative to work for a Warriors’ organization that has supported him around every turn, because many NBA coaches are not afforded the same luxury.
“I’m just thankful to work here with management and ownership that supports me and a group of players that are supporting me all the time. I know that’s not always the case around the league so I’m really, really lucky here.”
Injuries force a lineup shuffle
The Warriors received good news on Monday regarding the status of veteran guard Andre Iguodala, who will play against Sacramento despite dealing with a minor knee injury.
Though Iguodala will be on the floor, Golden State will be without both of its MVPs, as Steph Curry and Kevin Durant will sit with injuries that Kerr didn’t term as concerning.
Durant will miss his fourth game in the last 10 days, as he’s had trouble recovering from a sprained ankle he suffered last Saturday evening in Philadelphia. Curry’s absence stems from a hand injury suffered on Saturday night against New Orleans. Though Kerr didn’t mention Durant’s status for Wednesday, he did say Curry should be available when the Warriors travel to Los Angeles to take on the Lakers.
With both Curry and Durant out, Kerr said Patrick McCaw and Omri Casspi will join the starting lineup.