Mavericks Coach Rick Carlisle Throws Ruthless Shade at Knicks Following David Fizdale Firing

The New York Knicks fired David Fizdale on Friday, and it took less than a day for other prominent NBA coaches to come to his defense.

First, it was Steve Kerr showing empathy towards Fizdale after being asked about the situation, saying that he also would've been fired quickly if he'd taken the Knicks coaching offer back in 2014.

Steve Kerr on David Fizdale’s firing and the occasional what if, on days like today, as in: What if he took the Knicks job instead of the Warriors one? “That would’ve been me three years ago.” pic.twitter.com/W7Rrc3TTcF
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 6, 2019

Following in lockstep, Mavs head man Rick Carlisle showed support for Fizdale on Saturday. The Mavericks coach was also asked about the firing, and pointed the blame towards the incompetent Knicks franchise, unprompted.

Rick Carlisle: “I’m happy for Fizdale to be out of that terrible mess that he had nothing to do with.”
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) December 7, 2019

Yup, that's how you get KP! Dealing with a disaster.

These assertions about the Knicks shouldn't be taken with a grain of salt. Both Kerr and Carlisle have won championships with their respective teams, showing that they both know what's required from a franchise for a coach to be successful. It's clear that they, along with many others, know anyone hired by New York is set up for failure.

Knicks head coaches this century: 13

Knicks playoff wins this century: 9
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) December 6, 2019

It's going to take an ownership change in order for the Knicks to turn their franchise around, not just a new coach.