Mike Budenholzer is rounding out his staff as he is set to coach for the Phoenix Suns next season, and he has already made his first move.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday night that David Fizdale is returning to the Phoenix Suns in an assistant coaching role on Mike Budenholzer’s staff.
When the Phoenix Suns relieved Frank Vogel of his coaching duties earlier this month, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the team offered David Fizdale a front-office role to keep him, and it was mentioned that the 49-year-old may not have accepted the offer.
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In addition to David Fizdale, the Phoenix Suns also went out and got Vince Legarza, a former Mike Budenholzer deputy during their days with the Milwaukee Bucks, according to Duane Rankin from AZ Central.
Legarza is reunited with Budenholzer after he wasn’t retained by the Milwaukee Bucks at the start of this season when the team hired then-head coach Adrian Griffin.
David Fizdale’s experience will come in handy for the Phoenix Suns
David Fizdale will be a prominent voice in the Phoenix Suns coaching staff, given his vast experience in the NBA, having coached in the league for 21 years.
After being an assistant for the Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks, and the Miami Heat, the Los Angeles-born tactician got his two head coaching stints with the Memphis Grizzlies (2016-17) and New York Knicks (2018-19).
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Fizdale joined Frank Vogel’s Los Angeles Lakers staff in 2021-22, and once they were fired, Fizdale worked as an associate general manager for the Utah Jazz before reuniting with Vogel in Phoenix.
As a coach, David Fizdale has won two NBA titles with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013, having coached the Big 3 of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.
