Category: Memphis Grizzlies Blog

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the following medical update for Grizzlies center Deyonta Davis:

While participating in individual workouts in Memphis, Davis developed plantar fasciitis in his left foot. He is expected to miss the first three games at the 2016 Samsung NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and will be re-evaluated daily.

Davis (6-11, 239) was selected by Boston in the second round (31st overall) of the 2016 NBA Draft following his freshman season at Michigan State University. His draft rights were subsequently traded to Memphis on draft night.

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace yesterday announced that the organization has hired Keith Smart and Adam Mazarei as assistant coaches on head coach David Fizdale’s staff.

Smart comes to Memphis with over 25 years of professional basketball experience as either a player or coach, spending the last two seasons (2014-16) working with Fizdale as an assistant coach for the Miami Heat, assisting in game management. Smart has served as head coach for three different NBA franchises, guiding the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, and has worked as an assistant coach for those same organizations. Before starting his NBA coaching career with Cleveland, he spent three seasons as head coach of the Continental Basketball Association’s (CBA) Fort Wayne Fury, guiding the team to the first back-to-back winning seasons (1997-99) in franchise history.

A graduate of Indiana University, Smart helped lead the Hoosiers to the 1987 NCAA National Championship and was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Final Four after hitting the game-winning shot with five seconds remaining in the title game against Syracuse. Selected in the second round (41st overall) of the 1988 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors, Smart spent part of his nine-year professional career with the San Antonio Spurs (1988) before playing in the Philippines (1989), World Basketball League (1989-91), CBA (1992, 1995-97), Venezuela (1993) and France (1994).

Mazarei joins Fizdale’s staff after serving as a player development assistant for the Grizzlies for the past three seasons, during which time he assisted with advance and pro personnel scouting. Last summer, he attended the prestigious Grgurich camp, led by respected veteran NBA assistant coach Tim Grgurich, in Las Vegas. Before coming to Memphis, he served as an assistant and associate head coach for three years (2010-13) at Moorpark College in California where his responsibilities included assisting and organizing all scouting, recruiting, practice and game plans as well as player development.

In addition, Mazarei served as a player development coach at the IMPACT Basketball Academy in Las Vegas (2009-13) where he helped train current NBA veterans such as Serge Ibaka, Kyle Lowry and Terrence Ross in addition to pre-draft rookies. He holds a master’s degree in athletic administration and coaching from Concordia University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Redlands, where he led the SCIAC Conference in assists per game and paced the NCAA in assist-to-turnover ratio (5:1) as a senior.

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace today named David Fizdale as the team’s new head coach.

Here is what the Grizzlies say about Fizdale:

Considered one of the rising stars in NBA coaching ranks, Fizdale comes to Memphis after spending eight seasons (2008-16) with the Miami Heat, including the last two as the assistant head coach and the previous six as an assistant coach under Erik Spoelstra. During that time, Fizdale’s assistance in game preparation, involvement in player development and rapport with the roster played a major role in the Heat’s championship success. Dating back to his first season on the Heat sidelines in 2008-09, Miami won more playoff games (70) and playoff series (15) than any team in the NBA and compiled the league’s second-best regular season (.623) and fourth-best postseason (.619) winning percentages.

Before his tenure in Miami, Fizdale spent four seasons (2004-08) as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks, where he was instrumental in the development of their young players. The Hawks increased their win total in each of his final three seasons and in 2007-08 earned the franchise’s first postseason appearance since 1999. He began his NBA coaching career as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors for one season (2003-04).

Prior to joining the Warriors, Fizdale spent five seasons coaching in the college ranks. After one year (1997-98) in the Heat video department, he started his coaching career as an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of San Diego. After four seasons (1998-2002) with the Toreros, he spent one season (2002-03) as an assistant coach at Fresno State University.

A three-year starter at point guard while playing at the University of San Diego, Fizdale was selected to the All-West Coast Conference team after his senior season in 1996.

The Los Angeles native earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and a minor in sociology from San Diego in 1996.

The National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association (NBATA) has named Memphis Grizzlies Head Athletic Trainer and Vice President of Player Care Drew Graham as its 2015-16 Joe O’Toole Athletic Trainer of the Year. The award is chosen each year for exemplary achievement or outstanding service to the NBATA.

Graham, who recently concluded his 10th season as the Grizzlies’ head athletic trainer, has been on the executive committee and foundation committee for the last four years.

“Every year the NBATA recognizes a Head Athletic Trainer for exemplary achievement or outstanding service to the NBA and the NBATA,” said Kevin Johnson, Chairman of the NBATA and Head Athletic Trainer of the Philadelphia 76ers. “Drew Graham’s professionalism, knowledge and work ethic has made him our Trainer of the Year.”

Graham joined the Grizzlies in 2006 after working the previous six seasons (2000-06) as an assistant athletic trainer/strength and conditioning coach with the New Jersey Nets. In addition to his NBA experience, Graham served three years (1997-2000 as the director of athletic training at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex and three years (1994-97) as an athletic trainer for the National Football League’s Cincinnati Bengals. Before beginning his career in professional sports, Graham worked for four years at The Ohio State University as an athletic trainer for men’s hockey (1994-95), football (1993-94) and baseball (1992-93).

“When there is an award given from your peers who know what your day and season consists of, there really isn’t anything more special,” Graham said. “I want to thank the NBATA, the Memphis Grizzlies and the entire medical staff I work with every day. Without their help, I wouldn’t have received this award.”

The award is named for Joe O’Toole, the long-time former head athletic trainer for the Atlanta Hawks who is regarded as the father of the NBATA.

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace announced today that Dave Joerger will not return as head coach next season.

According to the Memphis Commecial Appeal, Joerger had one guaranteed season remaining on his contract, and the team held an option on him for the 2017-18 season.

“After careful consideration, I concluded that a change was needed to foster the strong culture required to achieve sustainable, long-term success for this organization, the city and our fans,” said General Manager, Chris Wallace.

“On behalf of the Grizzlies organization I would like to thank Dave for his work and time in Memphis,” Wallace continued. “We wish Dave and his family all the best and success as he moves forward in his career.”

Joerger started with the Grizzlies as an assistant coach with the Grizzlies prior to the 2007-08 season, eventually replacing Lionel Hollins as head coach on June 27, 2013. Joerger owns an overall career head coaching record of 147-99 (.598), including three NBA Playoff appearances with the Grizzlies. In 22 career playoff games, he holds an overall record of 9-13 (.409).

The search for a new head coach will begin immediately.

According to ESPN.com, “Grizzlies management believed Joerger was not fully invested in coaching in Memphis and had been getting indications of that all season, sources said. The Grizzlies were also frustrated by Joerger’s veiled swipes at the front office in the media. Joerger, on the other hand, felt that he did not have management’s full support, according to sources, a sentiment he believes began when he interviewed for the Minnesota Timberwolves’ head-coaching job two years ago.”

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced that Matt Woodley has been named head coach of the Iowa Energy, the team’s NBA Development League affiliate. Woodley becomes the fifth head coach in franchise history after spending the past two seasons with the Energy organization.

Woodley, who served as associate head coach last season, joined the Energy as an assistant coach for the 2014-15 season.

“We are pleased to announce Matt as head coach of the Iowa Energy,” Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace said. “As evidenced last season, our affiliation with the Iowa Energy provides us a critical resource in the development of our players and institution of our organization’s philosophies. Matt’s coaching acumen and background within the Energy franchise make him a terrific fit.”

“We are excited to promote Matt and are confident he is the right person to continue the proud history of Iowa Energy basketball,” said Energy General Manager & Grizzlies Director of Basketball Operations Chris Makris. “Matt has readied himself for this position by playing a tremendous role in the development of our players during his two seasons with our organization.”

Prior to joining the Energy, Woodley served as head coach of the Truman State Bulldogs men’s basketball program for three seasons (2011-2014). He guided the Bulldogs to the 2013 MIAA Tournament while three players earned All-MIAA honors. In addition, Woodley also served as an assistant coach at Washington State University (2006-09), Middle Tennessee State University (2004-06) and the University of Denver (2001-04).