Nigeria’s new coach, Fizdale set for D’Tigers challenge

By Pius Ayinor

The new coach of Nigeria’s men’s basketball team, David Fizdale, has spoken of his excitement and readiness for the new job. The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) announced the American as the new head coach of D’Tigers last weekend.

Fizdale, who spoke via an exclusive interview with M4STV (m4stv.com), said he is busy this period talking and watching Nigerian players in America and Europe, especially those scouting reports suggest are good enough for a trial with the national team.

The former NBA player and coach is confident that his knowledge of the Nigerian players and the system should help him face the latest challenge in his career.

Explaining his relationship with the Nigerian basketball community, he told M4STV, “I have coached a few of them, and this helps. I coached (Chimezie) Metu, I have coached Josh Okogie, and I coached (Ekpe) Udoh. And so along the line, I have watched with quite a number of them, and I have worked on the front desk for a while with a lot of these guys. I have watched many of them go through the Draft system to become players and free agents. Some of these players have played for the team (D’Tigers) before leaving for Europe. I am watching these guys to see if they can make a team for the NBA pool.

“I have also talked and learned quite a lot from my friend Mike Brown. He has told me a lot about the people I will be working with, the process, and what it means to Nigerians.”

He then added, “I have watched the ladies play, and I like their tempo; I like that.”

Fizdale, in this first interview with a Nigerian news platform, said he was very available for the team and has promised to give the job a full push.

“I am extremely available. I would not have taken the job if I didn’t have the time. You know I stepped down from my NBA coaching, and this makes me very much available. I have never done anything that I can’t put my whole heart into. I talked with a lot of those guys (players, administrators) and Mike Brown (D’Tigers’ former coach to the Tokyo Olympics), and that has given me a very good idea of the kind of work before me, and I am excited, and I know I can put in enough effort that can make this team work.”

Fizdale’s work starts with the aspirations of leading the country to the 2028 Olympics in his hometown of Los Angeles. The African will get the Nigerian team competing in Angola by July.

Fizdale has an NBA regular-season head coaching record of 71-134 with the Memphis Grizzlies (2016-17) and New York Knicks (2018-19). The 51-year-old most recently coached in the NBA as an assistant with the Phoenix Suns from 2023 to 2025.

Nigeria’s men’s basketball team has made three Olympic appearances in 2012, 2016, and 2020. Current Knicks head coach Mike Brown coached D’Tigers during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and enjoyed exhibition wins over the United States and Argentina.

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