Knicks head coach David Fizdale took the first step toward building _ and in many ways repairing _ a relationship with Kristaps Porzingis by meeting with the All-Star forward's agent Janis Porzingis, the Daily News has learned.
According to a Knicks source, Fizdale and Janis, Kristaps' older brother, met in Manhattan on Friday after Fizdale returned from the NBA draft combine in Chicago.
Kristaps did not attend the meeting and instead remains in Madrid, continuing his rehabilitation from left knee surgery. Fizdale is still hoping to meet face to face with Kristaps in Latvia at some point this summer. Phil Jackson, Jeff Hornacek, Steve Mills and Scott Perry never traveled to the home country of the team's top player.
Fizdale, who was named head coach two weeks ago, wants to make a quick and strong connection with both Kristaps and Janis as he sees the 7-foot-3 forward as the centerpiece of the Knicks rebuild.
Over the last two seasons Kristaps has started to lose faith in the Knicks front office, the medical staff and Hornacek, who was fired on the final night the NBA regular season.
The meeting was said to be productive and it is believed that Fizdale and Porzingis discussed Fizdale's infamous falling out with Marc Gasol, which led to Fizdale being fired as Memphis Grizzlies head coach last November.
In the wake of the firing, Fizdale gained a reputation as a coach who didn't respect foreign-born players. At his introductory press conference, Fizdale addressed his relationship with Gasol and accepted his share of the blame for the falling out.
Fizdale also said he was eager to work with Kristaps, who became a first-time All-Star last season before suffering a knee injury in February that required season-ending surgery.
Perry said that the Knicks won't know until September when and if Porzingis will play next season. Last month, MSG Chairman James Dolan hinted that Porzingis may miss all of next season.
