David Fizdale

“I'm not coach D'Antoni. I have to coach to my version of pace-and-space. We all steal from each other, but a lot of us have stolen from him.”

“Sometimes you've gotta take a risk.”

“I knew as an assistant coach it wasn't my place to overstep the head coach.”

“The idea of Dwyane Wade not being in a Heat uniform was a kick in the stomach.”

“You don't sell the team short and say, 'We're just trying to make the playoffs,' or anything like that.”

“I always said, 'if we win, we all will profit.' So forget about the profit part of it; let's just win, and the rest will take care of itself.”

“Carry yourself like a champion now so when you get there, it's not a surprise.”

“There are not a lot of young African-American guys who come through the video room. I wanted to make sure I was one of those guys, not only to live up to that standard but almost make a breakthrough for young African-American men. There is a pathway for you through the video room as well, but you have to be willing to do the work.”

“Pace is just how fast we can get the ball from one end to the other. It's not necessarily how fast we can shoot. It's just a tempo thing.”

“I have a lot of respect for coach D'Antoni. He's one of the really class acts in this league who is willing to share. He's really impacted this league in a big way.”

“I'm not afraid to coach guys. But I am going to coach them to win, and I am going to hold them to a high standard.”

“When you know that the offense isn't just predicated on one guy and that every movement you make gives you a chance to be a part of the action, to make you a weapon, it's empowering.”

“It doesn't matter what color you are. Poverty is poverty. Inmates come from all walks of life. We have to make sure we look out for these people and give them a chance.”

“I only know one thing. I have been bred through the Heat organization to do it one way. And every day, you prepare.”

“No matter who is on your team, you are going after the title.”

“I respect the people that I lost to.”

“If I don't have any other strength, I'm pretty good at building relationships.”

“Memphis don't bluff. It's a tight knit community.”

“I really want to institute a culture that has nothing to do with shots or minutes or anything like that. It starts with a foundation of service.”

“If you're not a player, it's hard to get into this league. You need a small opportunity that you turn into a bigger opportunity.”