David Fizdale’s middle name isn’t Naismith, but Knicks brass does have confidence its brand-new coach invented basketball.
Thursday’s draft was confirmation after the Knicks selected 18-year-old small forward Kevin Knox over the more established Mikal Bridges and Miles Bridges, and snagging the rawest of 20-year-olds in Louisiana mystery man Mitchell Robinson without a workout.
Since the Knicks are on track to win 20-25 games next season, they need to sell something. Their still-unproven ability to turn potential into prosperity is being peddled to wannabe season-ticket holders.
“Watch The Fiz Kids’’ is a perfect promo line.
“One of the things that made us so comfortable about taking Mitchell is we believe in our coaching staff, we believe in our developmental process and we know we have a situation that can help embrace him, find him ways to grow off the court and on the court, grow as a player,’’ team president Steve Mills said at Friday’s press conference. “We know we have a group of coaches and environment around him that’s going to give him the support to succeed. We know we have the environment that will help him grow.”
If he has yet to prove himself as a master head coach, Fizdale has as a master salesman. Fizdale really is charming.
That bodes well in future free agencies, though this July even general manager Scott Perry admits looks quiet. The Knicks are preparing to keep open cap space for the summer of 2019, so no long-term deals of consequence. That is the summer of Kyrie and Kawhi.
“I don’t expect to be very active,’’ said Perry, who won’t have cap space unless Enes Kanter leaves $18.6 million on the table this week.
Kyrie Irving placed the Knicks on his wish list in the summer of 2017 and undoubtedly the point guard will have them on it in 2019. Word of advice to Fizdale: Memorize some of the funnier lines from the movie “Uncle Drew,’’ which comes out Friday with Irving starring as a 65-year-old former Rucker Park legend.
If Knox looks like a future stud next season and Kristaps Porzingis makes a sound return, Irving, out of West Orange, N.J., will probably lust for the Garden like he does for Rucker in his movie. Frenchman Frank Ntilikina is all about team and could turn into either one of the NBA’s top backup point guards or starting shooting guard with Tim Hardaway Jr. transforming into a Sixth Man of the Year candidate.
Knox is here not because of anything dynamic he did as a Kentucky freshman when he committed 2.3 turnovers a night and posted analytics that would make Houston’s sabermetric guru Daryl Morey blanch.
Tarrytown is now Fort Knox because Fizdale fell in love with his three-on-three workout versus Miles Bridges in an empty Westchester gym 15 days ago. Fizdale lobbied brass to overlook Mikal Bridges’ ability in the clutch and leadership on the biggest stages the past three seasons on two NCAA-title-winning teams. Additionally, Knox projects as a better small-ball power-forward than either Bridges, giving the 7-foot-3 Porzingis a push to occupy center.
Fizdale didn’t watch any college ball this season, but loved the way Knox absorbed watching game film with him during that visit. Mills twice referred to Knox’s bravado in agreeing to do a group workout. (Mikal Bridges went solo.) However, Knox was accused of soft defensive play at Kentucky.
“Talent over toughness,’’ one NBA scout described the Knicks’ choice.
And now we see Fizdale’s talent as player-development guru. Fizdale raved about his new staff — Keith Smart, Jud Buechler, and Royal Ivey.
Fizdale, who has taken credit for the emergences of Miami’s Tyler Johnson, Hassan Whiteside, Josh Richardson, said about seven Knicks prospects have sweated it out daily with him in the gym. The mainstays are Ntilikina, Damyean Dotson, Emmanuel Mudiay, Troy Williams, Luke Kornet and Isaiah Hicks.
Now the “Fiz Kids” add Knox, Robinson, who hasn’t played even a pickup game in 14 months, and Allonzo Trier, a talented shooting guard who went undrafted amid a performance-enhancing drug cloud.
“I got a heck of a staff,’’ Fizdale, who was on a float during the Pride Parade Sunday, said. “I hired all developmental guys with developmental backgrounds. So we’re going to throw these kids in the mix and get ready for summer league.’’
After Fizdale’s hire, Mudiay told The Post, “He’s an unbelievable guy. He studies the game, loves the game of basketball. You can tell he’s well-prepared.”
Over the weekend, in perhaps another slight at former coaches Jeff Hornacek and Kurt Rambis, Mudiay told ESPN, “Love it man. Fiz, he can connect with us, the younger generation really good.”
The new coach has already instilled some bravado into Knox, who told The Post’s Steve Serby his sights are on Rookie of the Year. The day before the draft, Knox already pegged Fizdale his favorite coach he’s ever met. Quite an impression.
And Knox is touting his first Kevin Durant matchup.
“That’s been my guy growing up,’’ Knox said. “I‘ve watched film on him playing all the Finals. But now that I’m in the NBA. It’s competitive now. So I’m really looking forward to playing against him.’’
Remember Craig Robinson, Barack Obama’s brother-in-law who is the team’s vice president of player development, said the Knicks have “the secret sauce’’ in player development. Almost all 30 teams have added a bundle of youth the past few days, but the Knicks know how to cultivate it the best.
At least that’s what they say.