NBA: After inglorious separation: Gasol and Fizdale reconciled

David Fizdale returned to Memphis on Monday night as head coach of the New York Knicks. There the 44-year-old was dismissed last season after alleged problems with Star Marc Gasol. Fizdale now explained that the waves are smoothed with the Spaniard.

“We had a fantastic conversation,” Fizdale explained in an interview with Tim MacMahon of ESPN. “It was a conversation between two grown men. It’s pretty cool to have a moment in your life that changes you and makes you better,” the coach continued.

Fizdale went on to say that he thanked Gasol for this and that he was lucky to have coached him. Gasol also had only good things to say about Fizdale and this summer Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis, who had asked Gasol questions about Fizdale, said the same. The Spaniard then explained to the unicorn that Fizdale was a great coach and that he would go well with the Knicks.

“We both appreciate our time together, but we also understand that not everything went perfectly,” Gasol continued about the Fizdale era in Memphis. “We would both behave differently now and I don’t mean last season, but the year before. We wouldn’t let that happen again. It’s very simple: you learn from your mistakes. We have made peace, and that concludes that.”

Fizdale was released from the Grizzlies after a 7-12 start, but even after that there was no improvement, so the Grizzlies got the fourth pick and moved with this Jaren Jackson Jr. Memphis got off to a surprisingly good start this season with a score of 12-6. Gasol also presented himself in strong form again, with an average of 17.6 points and 9.8 rebounds so far.