Former NBA sideline boss David Fizdale has accepted the role of head coach for Nigeria’s men’s national basketball team, he confirmed to Marc J. Spears of ESPN’s Andscape.
Fizdale, 51, said his primary objective is guiding Nigeria to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, his hometown. “It will be fun and exciting calling timeouts and drawing plays up again as a head coach,” he told Andscape in a phone interview, adding that coaching in front of family members would be “the most special thing.”
The new assignment marks Fizdale’s return to coaching after serving as an NBA TV analyst. He previously led the Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks, compiling a 71-134 regular-season record from 2016 to 2019. Most recently, he was the lead assistant with the Phoenix Suns from 2023 to 2025 and spent several earlier seasons as an assistant in Miami.
Current Knicks coach Mike Brown—who formerly helmed Nigeria’s national team—helped persuade Fizdale to take the job, according to the new coach. Nigeria begins its African qualifying campaign for the 2027 FIBA World Cup in early July.
If Nigeria secures a berth in the 2027 World Cup or 2028 Olympics, an influx of NBA talent could follow. A source told Spears that Desmond Bane, OG Anunoby, Onyeka Okongwu, Gabe Vincent, Mark Williams, Zeke Nnaji, Precious Achiuwa, Josh Okogie, Adem Bona and Isaac Okoro are among the players who may be available for selection.
Source: Hoops Rumors
