David Fizdale has formally been appointed as the brand new head coach of D’Tigers by the Nigeria Basketball Federation.
The previous NBA coach takes over at an essential time for Nigerian basketball, with the crew making ready for qualification campaigns for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Video games.
Fizdale brings greater than 20 years of NBA teaching expertise. He spent eight years with the Miami Warmth, serving to the franchise win NBA championships in 2012 and 2013 throughout the period of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
He later turned head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies and the New York Knicks, main Memphis to the NBA playoffs in 2017. Most not too long ago, he labored with the Phoenix Suns as an assistant coach.
Talking after accepting the function, Fizdale stated former D’Tigers coach Mike Brown performed a key function in bringing him to Nigeria.
“I’m very excited. I’ve Mike Brown to thank,” Fizdale stated.
“He introduced the chance to me, and after a number of conversations and loads of back-and-forth, we agreed that I might tackle the problem of serving to the crew qualify.”
D’Tigers stay certainly one of Africa’s most revered basketball groups. Nigeria received its first AfroBasket title in 2015 and has certified for 3 Olympic Video games. The crew additionally made international headlines in 2021 after defeating the USA in a pre-Olympic exhibition recreation.
Fizdale replaces Mohammed Abdulrahman and is predicted to start his tenure throughout the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African qualifiers.
Nigeria presently sit third in Group C after profitable certainly one of their opening three qualification video games.
The federation hopes Fizdale’s appointment will assist enhance teaching requirements and participant growth as Nigeria continues its push to compete constantly on the highest stage of worldwide basketball.
