Media Day: First-year head coach David Fizdale has quickly gained the respect of players and fans alike

The Memphis Grizzlies’ David Fizdale may be a rookie head coach, but he’s quickly gained the respect of longtime players and fans alike.

Gaining Quick Respect

There was a large amount of respect for David Fizdale in the locker room. Whenever most players were asked about their role next season, most simply responded with “whatever coach wants me to do.”

Seeing players buy into their coach, especially a rookie coach, is a good sign moving forward for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Mike Conley said how Fizdale is “definitely not like a first-year coach” and how it seems like it’s a “been there, done that” thing for him. Hearing your starting point guard, the facilitator of the offense, praising his new coach is great. In turn, it should mean that the integration of Fizdale’s offense should be a smooth transition.

Role in the Community

One of the biggest off-court contributions for the Memphis Grizzlies is their work in the community. Coach David Fizdale looks to be all-hands-on-deck.

Fizdale said: “I really want to be a mentor. I want to get involved in programs.”

It’s not too often an NBA coach strives to be an impact in his community. Memphis hired a special coach who looks to reach out in ways beyond basketball.

Culture

David Fizdale was quick to say that he’d like to “institute a culture” here in Memphis:

"The biggest thing I wanted was connection. Not too much about the system or anything like that, but I wanted them to be together, work together, spend time together and get to know each other."

Fizdale praised the veterans for coming out and putting in the work to connect with the new guys both on and off the court.

When asked about the change of pace, Fizdale mentioned how players have gotten in shape to play at a quicker pace. He is expecting players to respond and accept his demands.

Through Fizdale’s remarks about the season and the culture he is looking to instill, the Memphis Grizzlies have a coach who is looking to keep his players accountable and guide them along the path to a NBA title.

Minutes

One of the biggest storylines for the Memphis Grizzlies going into training camp was injuries.

In a year where Mike Conley, Marc Gasol and Chandler Parsons saw their seasons come to a close early, there is concern about how Fizdale looks to manage their minutes.

Chris Wallace and Dave Fizdale both look to utilize rest at certain points in the season. However, there is no particular timetable.

It’s important for the Memphis Grizzlies to be mindful of their players’ minutes. With a team that saw 28 guys in uniform last season and that consists of an aging core, they must do whatever it takes to suit up the best players on the roster.

Luckily, none of the players mentioned setbacks with their injuries. Deyonta Davis, Marc, Mike and Chandler are looking to progress throughout training camp in hopes to be ready for opening night.

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