Former NBA head coach David Fizdale serves as one of the primary analysts on NBA TV’s show The Association.
David Fizdale, former NBA coach and NBA TV analyst on The Association, sat down to discuss the start of the 2025-26 NBA season, trends he’s seeing in the league, his time as a coach in the NBA and more in this month’s Reddit AMA. Check out what he had to say.
QUESTION
What was it like behind the scenes coaching guys like LeBron, Bosh and Wade? What did those guys need from the coaching staff that maybe other guys didn’t?
DAVID FIZDALE
Behind the scenes, it was fun! They were a fun group. They were a bunch of guys laughing at each other or laughing at themselves. They really tried to make sure they had a good balance between having fun and being serious. They needed the truth. That’s just the reality. People think you have to dance around stars and cater to their ego. Yes, you recognize their greatness, but in the real world, they want to be coached and want to win. They would know if you BS them. They asked for the truth and received it, and they turned it into wins.
Do you see a place for small guards going forward considering the influx of 7-foot-3+ players coming in? If so, what skillset must they have?
Yes, I think they must be able to shoot and be a lightning rod on the court. They need to impose their will on the game in a way that only their bodies are capable of. I think about guys like Jose Alvarado. He’s an excellent template for guys his size who can push the ball and pick up the pace. If I were a small guard, that would be one of the guys I am watching.
If you could do a Fiz’s Five segment about anything, what would it be?
I would do Top 5 1980 R&B Groups:
Gap Band, Frankie Beverly & Maze, The Pointer Sisters, Guy, New Edition
What did you learn from your stint as head coach in New York? Are there things you wish you did differently?
Great question. I learned a lot about myself, more than anything. Don’t be afraid to take big swings. Even when so-called odds are stacked against you, or you’re not supposed to win, you still chase it. That was one thing that I really learned about myself is that I am willing to go there.
I kinda kept doing that since. Chasing championships and going after big things. Anything I would have done differently, as I reflect, is that instead of trying to be “keeping up with the Joneses,” with this speed offense, and really trying to spread the floor. I would have played a traditional 2-big offense, with some modern tweaks. I would have ran my bigs to the strong post, trailed with another big, and played out of that kind of action. A lot of what we did before we got the Big 3 in Miami.
The team we had was like a 90s-built team. We had a ton of forwards and bigs, and we had point guards who weren’t necessarily great shooters. So that kind of offense probably would have been more effective. Would it have won more games? I don’t know, but as a coach, you always reflect on what you coulda, woulda, shoulda done differently.
And I would say this, to all young coaches out there, some of them don’t have a choice, but if you’re in your second job, I would never go into a second job that requires losing to get good. Coaches don’t get to escape their record. Players, GMs, and Presidents can escape their records. Ownership escapes their record, but coaches never do. And they are the only ones whose records are shown on TV under their name. So I would never agree to do that if I were a young coach talking to myself again. First job, sometimes you don’t have a choice. Second job, that’s your choice, you asked for it. So that’s on me.
If you were to purchase tickets in order to watch one current player in the league, which one would it be?
His highness, Stephen Curry!
What is something you feel the average fan has the least understanding about coaching/managing a team?
The pressures on that coach to try and fulfill the vision of the front office while still staying true to his roots and what he believes as a basketball coach, and what is best for his team.
Who was the biggest inspiration to you in the NBA world?
NBA legend Bernie Bickerstaff coaches the Seattle SuperSonics in December 1990.
Bernie Bickerstaff. He led the way for all of the guys in my crew to have a chance to get into the NBA. What he had to go through to get to where he got to is unspeakable. I couldn’t even imagine being an African-American man going through that time, trying to be a head coach in this league, and what he did and how he did it with such grace and class is an inspiration. Obviously, he has a lot to do with my path and Mike Brown’s path, and his sons’ path, and so many of us. Lloyd Pierce. And I can go on forever. There are so many of us who owe him so much. He’s my inspiration. He is on Mt. Rushmore for me.
What was your favorite arena to coach in, and who was your most underrated player to coach — someone who was completely coachable, contrary to people’s expectations — and why?
Madison Square Garden was my favorite arena to coach in. My favorite to go win in when you are a team on the road is Boston. My favorite player, under the circumstances you mentioned, where people may have a misconception, was Zach Randolph. Z-Bo was the most coachable human being. He would do anything for his team and his teammates.
I walked into Memphis and asked him to come off the bench for the first time in his career, and he didn’t even bat an eye. He averaged 16/8 like he always does, and he did his Z-Bo thing. My agreement with him is that he would get the same usage and not have to compete for the ball, and that he would get a contract from us or somebody else at his age. And he agreed to do it, and it worked out great, and he ended up getting another 2-year deal from Sacramento. And he earned it, and it was awesome, and he was a joy to be around.
What’s a key lesson you’ve learned about sports television since joining The Association?
Don’t piss off the boss! Take care of your host and your hostess. Feed them and get them gifts. Tonight is MJ’s birthday, we can’t be screwing around here.
Which young player has impressed you this season and why?
Amen Thompson. With all the changes to the team and the “no point guard,” that kid took that position and ran with it. It’s now going to be hard to get that ball out of his hands. He impacts the game in so many ways in a tough, mature manner, and his teammates follow him. Reed Sheppard threatened to punch him if he passed up an open shot. Obviously, you aren’t looking to have your teammates threaten to punch you in the face, but as a shooter, you want your teammates to say that.
And then what team has impressed you so far?
I am impressed with Toronto. Very impressed with them and the job Coach Darko is doing. The style of play is fun, and it fits them. The guys are bought in, and they are competing for one another. They are not a team anyone expected to get out of the gate this way. I am really enjoying them.
