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Before hiring their head coach last week, the New York Knicks reportedly reached to LeBron James’ agent Rich Paul to quiz him about LeBron’s former coach David Fizdale according to a report from Marc Berman of the NY Post.
Via NY Post
Knicks brass never talked to LeBron James for a reference on David Fizdale — perhaps out of fear of tampering.
But Knicks president Steve Mills and GM Scott Perry did the next-best thing — reaching out to Rich Paul, James’ longtime agent and childhood friend from Akron, according to an NBA source.
All four of James’ seasons in Miami (2010-2014) came alongside Fizdale, then a Heat assistant coach. And reportedly, the pair got along famously.
Just last week Berman reported that the Knicks are hopeful that Fizdale’s hiring could lure James to New York.
Knicks brass has pointed toward the summer of 2019, when it plans to be ready to make a free-agent splash. But after Thursday’s hiring of former Memphis head coach and Heat assistant David Fizdale, the Knicks are prepared to open salary-cap space this summer in the unlikely event they get an inkling LeBron James has some interest in coming to the Garden this summer, according to an NBA source.
James is a big fan of Fizdale, who was a Miami assistant from 2008 to 2016, including all four of James’ seasons there.
I expect a lot of silly reports like this to leak out before LeBron finally makes his decision. I highly doubt LeBron would go to New York just because he likes the coach considering the team is a shit show right now.