D'Antoni to Knicks

[King Taharqa]

NEW YORK (TICKER) —Mike D’Antoni will become the next head coach of the New York Knicks, Sports Illustrated reported on its web site Saturday.

According to SI, the former Phoenix Suns coach accepted New York’s offer of a four-year contract worth $24 million. The Knicks have yet to comment on the report.

D’Antoni, who had two years remaining on his contract with the Suns that would have paid him nearly $9 million, reportedly also was mulling an offer from the Chicago Bulls.

D’Antoni appeared to have no future with the Suns when the team granted him permission earlier in the week to speak with other clubs about their head-coaching vacancies.

The Arizona Republic reported that the relationship between D’Antoni and Suns general manager Steve Kerr has been strained since the two had an argument in November.


D’Antoni, who turned 57 on Thursday, interviewed with the Knicks and Bulls. His personality alone would seem to be a breath of fresh air in New York after the disastrous reign of Isiah Thomas.

D’Antoni is known for his laid-back approach and stresses up-tempo basketball. Under his watch, the Suns were one of the NBA’s highest-scoring and most entertaining teams, although they were unable to advance beyond the Western Conference finals.

This year, the Suns were eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs in five games, their first opening-round exit from the playoffs since 2003.

D’Antoni posted a 253-136 record in his four-plus seasons as coach of the Suns.

In New York, he would have the tall task of trying to rebuild the league’s most dysfunctional franchise while changing its culture of losing.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...v=st&type=lgns

I dont think this a good hire by Donnie Walsh. D'Antoni is a great offensive mind, but he does not stress defense at all. New Yorkers tend to favor the Knicks being a tough minded blue collar defensive team, and D'Antoni wont bring that. I remember the team hiring Don Nelson in 95 and the fans being disgusted with his "run n gun" style of coaching. He didnt last very long up there, and this could turn out to end the same way.