Knicks Rumors: Royal Ivey 'Finalizing' Contract to Join David Fizdale's Staff

Former Texas Longhorns and NBA player Royal Ivey is "finalizing a deal with the New York Knicks to work on David Fizdale's staff," according to Ian Begley of ESPN.com.

Ivey, who is an assistant for the Oklahoma City Thunder, "had received interest from other teams, including the Philadelphia 76ers, per sources, before closing in on the opportunity with the Knicks."

Ivey, 36, played for the Atlanta Hawks (2004-07), Milwaukee Bucks (2007-08, 2010), Philadelphia 76ers (2008-10, 2012-13) and Thunder (2010-12, 2014), averaging 3.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game in his career. He's served as an assistant under Billy Donovan in Oklahoma City the past two seasons.

In New York, he'll join Fizdale's staff as the Knicks take the next step in their rebuild. While they won't have Kristaps Porzingis until sometime this winter as he recovers from a torn ACL (if he plays at all next season), the Knicks have some interesting young pieces to build around, including Frank Ntilikina and whomever the team selects with the No. 9 overall pick.

For Ivey, joining the Knicks will be a homecoming, as he's from Harlem and still has family in Queens, according to Brian Lewis of the New York Post.

Ivey also played under Fizdale in his first three seasons with the Hawks, when the Knicks head coach was an assistant under Mike Woodson.

"There is that [familiarity]," Cardozo High School coach Ron Naclerio, who coached Ivey in high school, told Lewis. "[Fizdale] would be great for Royal. ... If that's what he wants, that's what I hope he gets. I want all my players to set goals high, reach for stars."

"He's one of the few kids who actually gets it," he added. "A lot of people talk the game, but he actually walks it."