Nigeria Coach Fizdale Aims for LA Olympics with D'Tigers

David Fizdale, newly appointed head coach of Nigeria’s senior men’s national basketball team, the D’Tigers, expressed optimism about qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and making a significant impact. The former Miami Heat coach discussed his ambitions in an exclusive interview with M4STV in Nigeria.

Earlier this week, the Nigeria Basketball Federation officially named Fizdale as the head coach of the D’Tigers.

Fizdale welcomed the new role, stating his goal is to reverse the gap between the men’s and women’s teams, the D’Tigress. He outlined a plan to secure a berth at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

“We have to make getting to Los Angeles our mission,” he said in the interview with M4STV in Nigeria.

“That is my ultimate goal, to get this team to those Olympics. And not just get there. I want to win.”

Fizdale added, “We can’t set short goals. We can’t just say, ‘Oh, we’re happy to be in the Olympics.’ That is not acceptable. We have to set higher goals. We have to set the same goals as the U.S. team, the same expectations as the U.S. team.”

“Can we reach it? I don’t know. But if we’re shooting for that and working in that way, pushing ourselves and holding ourselves accountable to be on that level, only good things can come out of that.”

Fizdale told M4STV that he was already talking with a lot of the players. “I guarantee you one thing: the guys I’ve talked to who want to play and are working to get eligibility, they’re not going to be happy just to be at the Olympics. They’re going to want to win a medal.”

Los Angeles is also Fizdale’s hometown.

The former assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns reflected, “As you progress through your career, you begin to compile a list of basketball achievements you wish to attain.”

Learning that he would coach a team from his hometown added to the allure. He recalled that friends, family, and coaches had all witnessed the 1984 Olympics.

At nine or ten, he watched young Michael Jordan emerge from college, a moment that stayed with him. Initially, he aspired to play.

When the opportunity to play did not materialize, he redirected his focus toward coaching at the Olympics.

Fizdale noted that he has already spoken with former Phoenix player Chimezie Metu and Houston Rockets guard Okogie. He reported that Nigerian players worldwide have responded positively.