Fizdale brings a wealth of experience to the role from the National Basketball Association (NBA), having previously served as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks.
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has announced the appointment of American David Fizdale as the new head coach of D’Tigers.
His appointment followed the recommendation of the NBBF technical committee.
Fizdale brings a wealth of experience to the role from the National Basketball Association (NBA), having previously served as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks.
The 51-year-old former point guard, who started his coaching career with San Diego in 1998, last worked as an assistant coach at the Phoenix Suns.
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Speaking after his appointment, Fizdale expressed excitement about the prospect of taking charge of Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team.
He also revealed that former D’Tigers coach Mike Brown played a key role in encouraging him to accept the position.
“I’m super excited. I have Mike Brown to thank, who coached the team before and the year they beat the US and played in Japan,” Fizdale said.
He added, “Mike brought it up to me. After some good talks and going back and forth, we agreed that I was going to try to take the team to qualify.”
Fizdale is expected to contribute meaningfully to coaches’ education, player development pathways, and broader technical growth within the Nigerian basketball ecosystem.
