Despite saying he didn’t intend to revenge his 2017 firing by the Grizzlies, New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale got emotional after his players overpowered Tennessee 103-98 on Sunday.
Fizdale was fired in 2017 after just one year in Tennessee. At the time, the Grizzlies were on an eight-game losing streak and 7-12 overall. He sat out the remaining part of the season and only signed with New York this year.
Earlier in the week, Fizdale had revealed he didn’t intend to get any revenge win over the team that just fired him. His players didn’t listen and on Sunday got their coach a win.
“I know I took it personal,” Emmanuel Mudiay said. “Actually, all of us took it personal. We wanted to come out here and get a win for him.”
The win didn’t come easily but the Knicks subdued the Grizzlies in the end. Tennessee almost staged a comeback in the last quarter. New York was leading 91-89 with 3:30 left. As the Grizzlies struggle to take the lead, Mudiay slammed a one-hand dunk and the Knicks increased the gap.
When the game ended, Knick’s players dashed toward the coach for a group hug and he got emotional.
“Emmanuel came up to me, him and Tim (Hardaway Jr.) both, were just hugging me and telling me it was for me. And then they all came in and I lost it (crying).”
