David Fizdale’s middle name isn’t Naismith, but Knicks brass does have confidence its brand-new coach invented basketball.
Thursday’s draft was confirmation after the Knicks selected 18-year-old small forward Kevin Knox over the more established Mikal Bridges and Miles Bridges, and snagging the rawest of 20-year-olds in Louisiana mystery man Mitchell Robinson without a workout.
Since the Knicks are on track to win 20-25 games next season, they need to sell something. Their still-unproven ability to turn potential into prosperity is being peddled to wannabe season-ticket holders.
“Watch The Fiz Kids’’ is a perfect promo line.
“One of the things that made us so comfortable about taking Mitchell is we believe in our coaching staff, we believe in our developmental process and we know we have a situation that can help embrace him, find him ways to grow off the court and on the court, grow as a player,’’ team president Steve Mills said at Friday’s press conference.