NEW YORK _ David Fizdale said he was going to be different, and so far he's keeping his word.
The New York Knicks new head coach, along with his wife Natasha Sen-Fizdale, traveled to Kristaps Porzingis' hometown of Liepaja, Latvia, this week to visit the centerpiece of the Knicks' franchise.
Porzingis underwent ACL surgery in Europe back in February and has been rehabbing ever since.
"We've talked about his rehab," Fizdale told Latvian television network LSM, per ESPN. "We've talked about how we want to play, our style of play. Talked a lot about the culture that we're building. We want to make sure that he comes back strong and healthy (from his ACL surgery) and we don't want to rush it.
"We've had some really good conversations. We talked about the kids we drafted (Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson). I've tried to make sure that he's _ we've been in communication on every decision that we've made."
Fizdale is making sure he goes the extra mile with Porzingis after things didn't end too well with the Knicks' last administration.
At the end of the 2016-17 season, Porzingis skipped his exit meeting. He wasn't too fond of former president Phil Jackson and ex-coach Jeff Hornacek.
In trying to implement his culture into the Knicks, Fizdale felt it was necessary to make the trip and extend an olive branch, despite the fact that Porzingis isn't expected back until at least December.
"The NBA is a small world and you kinda know people from afar, but this trip is more about getting to know him intimately, know his family, know where he's from, and kinda get to see what made him 'Kristaps,' " Fizdale said.
