Mike D'Antoni officially the new coach of the New York Knicks

[Halu Sination]

Mike D'Antoni has accepted an offer to coach the New York Knicks, according to a media reports.

The former Phoenix Suns coach, who was also sought by the Chicago Bulls, has accepted a four-year, $24 million deal to take over the Knicks, according to reports by Sports Illustrated and The Boston Globe, both citing a league source.

The Knicks did not immediately confirm that D'Antoni is New York-bound.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith had previously reported that the Knicks had outlined a four-year, $24 million offer for D'Antoni.

He takes over coaching duties for one of the league's most high-profile franchies -- and one that has fallen into disarray over the past two seasons under former coach and team president Isiah Thomas. Following a messy divorce with former coach Larry Brown, the Knicks went 33-49 in 2006-07 and 23-59 last season.

D'Antoni had two years and nearly $9 million remaining on his contract with the Suns, whom he led to two Western Conference finals. The Suns were eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs this season after trading Shawn Marion for Shaquille O'Neal.

The two-team chase for D'Antoni intensified when he talked to the Bulls in a late-evening conference call with team officials on Friday. And the Chicago Tribune reported that Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, who owns a home in the Phoenix area, planned to meet face-to-face over the weekend with D'Antoni.

D'Antoni has a 267-172 career coaching record with the Suns and Denver Nuggets. The Suns reached won at least 54 games in four of his five seasons and reached the Western Conference finals twice. He has a 26-25 record in the playoffs.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3389987

[GangstaBoogy]

Lol damn and just yesterday Nash said he expects D'Antoni back.

[Halu Sination]

not like knicks could get any worse, but that team is going to be hilarious next year. eddy curry, jerome james, and zbo in dantoni's system? awesome.

[D~Nice]

Report: D’Antoni takes Knicks’ job
1 hour, 30 minutes ago
 
      Buzz Up PrintNEW 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.

One of the first moves made by new Knicks president Donnie Walsh was to fire Thomas, who posted a 56-108 record in his two seasons as coach.

New York has endured seven straight losing seasons, including a 23-59 mark this year that matched the worst record in the franchise’s history.

Thomas also alienated the team’s fan base for his decisions as general manager. He loaded up on expensive contracts - creating major salary cap problems - while failing to build a competitive team.

Thomas also found controversy off the court, causing further embarrassment for the franchise.

In November, Madison Square Garden reached an out-of-court settlement for $11.5 million with former executive Anucha Browne Sanders, who had filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Thomas, Knicks owner James Dolan and the Garden.

In addition, Thomas spent most of the season feuding with guard Stephon Marbury and benched center Eddie Curry.

WHEW!!! I hope this is true. I did not want Chicago to hire him. Now we can focus on Avery Johnson.

[GangstaBoogy]

not like knicks could get any worse, but that team is going to be hilarious next year. eddy curry, jerome james, and zbo in dantoni's system? awesome.

I agree. But I expect a lot of trades to go down this summer. Randolph is as good as gone.

[Lunatic]

LOL he'll fit right in with that awful team

[thisoneguy360]

LOL^ just what I was thinking..

[Hatesrats™]

What a waste of 20+ mil..
They need help on the court not on the sidelines.
You can’t polish a turd!

[S P I C E]

I thought the great Donnie Walsh was going to get the Knicks headed in the right direction,  this move certainly is not going to help that happen.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Isiah Thomas > Mike D'Antoni

[Turf Hitta]

^^^LOL you cant be serious.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Why not? Isiah Thomas actually wasn't a terrible coach...The Knicks just sucked ass (even with Larry Brown). D'Antoni is a TERRIBLE coach with a TERRIBLE philosophy.

[Turf Hitta]

Why not? Isiah Thomas actually wasn't a terrible coach...The Knicks just sucked ass (even with Larry Brown). D'Antoni is a TERRIBLE coach with a TERRIBLE philosophy.

I agree that his system is not really a blueprint for success, but his career coaching record is actually better than many good coaches. Zeke actually wasn't all that bad as the coach of the Pacers, but he has the same amount of rings on his fingers (as a coach) as Dantoni, and a much lower win %.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

^ That said, Zeke's coaching philosophy is much stronger than D'Antonis...Zeke showed he could coach when he had players, something D'Antoni is yet to prove.

[OG Hack Wilson]

congrats to the knicks, you won't win a ring but you'll win 41 games if he gets his type of roster (realistically)

what do the Knicks do, see if he can coexist with Marbury or PRAY that somebody else will take Marbury's contract and draft a new PG?