Mike D'Antoni Q&A: The State of the Knicks
Jul 27 2010 2:35PM
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Mike D'Antoni is all smiles at the 2010 NBA Summer League about the Knicks roster.
NBAE/Getty Images
Over the course of the summer, nyknicks.com will sit down with members of the team, coaching staff, front office and others to discuss the eagerly anticipated 2010-11 campaign.
We sat down with Head Coach Mike D’Antoni in Las Vegas for the 2010 NBA Summer League to get his thoughts on all the changes throughout this transformative offseason.
NYKnicks.com: The roster has undergone a huge overhaul. How are you feeling right now?
Mike D’Antoni: I think we are young – real young – but we have a lot of good young players and good contracts and added Amar’e who is a legitimate top-10 player in the league, if not the best power forward in the league. We added a quality point guard who played in the playoffs last year, so it is really very exciting.
NYKnicks.com: What is it like for you reuniting with Amar’e?
D’Antoni: It’s good, just because he is so, so good. We have to keep adding talent to the roster, and like I said we will do that. But Amar’e is a big piece. I am looking forward to watching him play and putting up those highlight reel plays for us.
NYKnicks.com: I am going to say a few names if you can just give me the first word or two that comes to your mind. Anthony Randolph.
Mike D’Antoni: Talent.
NYKnicks.com: Raymond Felton
D’Antoni: Gritty.
NYKnicks.com: Kaleena Azubuike.
Mike D’Antoni: Toughness. A good shooter.
NYKnicks.com: Amar’e.
D’Antoni: Toughness. And he will and can perform on the big stage.
NYKnicks.com: Ronny Turiaf.
Mike D’Antoni: Energy.
NYKnicks.com: Timofey Mozgov.
D’Antoni: Athletic. Prospect.
NYKnicks.com: Mike D’Antoni
Mike D’Antoni: Quite a lot happier than yesterday. (laughs)
NYKnicks.com: What have you seen out of the rookies so far here at Summer League?
D’Antoni: I like them. I like them a lot actually. I think all three of them have a chance. Landry Fields is probably better than what we thought. The same for Andy Rautins - he’s good. And Jerome Jordan is a bit of a prospect, but they all have possibilities of sticking and contributing in the league.
NYKnicks.com: A lot has been said about Bill Walker…
Mike D’Antoni: He looks fantastic. He put in a lot of work to get himself fit and he is to be commended for that. He got his weight down a lot and still has a little bit more to go. But he’s good and we will see where he goes. But he has a lot of potential.
NYKnicks.com: And how about Toney Douglas?
D’Antoni: The same thing. He has put in a lot of work and he always come through with a lot of effort. He is learning how to play point guard and he will be good.
NYKnicks.com: Now you are only a couple months away from going back to Italy. What are your thoughts about taking the Knicks over there for the exhibition games?
Mike D’Antoni: It will be good. I am excited to start this year off. To be in Italy and do it there will be fun.
NYKnicks.com: Finally, Knicks fans have been waiting for this moment for a long time. What do you want to tell them?
D’Antoni: That they have been great. Hang in there with us and we are building this team to where it should be and are on the right track. We’ve got some real good pieces and we are going to get some more.
We sat down with Head Coach Mike D’Antoni in Las Vegas for the 2010 NBA Summer League to get his thoughts on all the changes throughout this transformative offseason.
NYKnicks.com: The roster has undergone a huge overhaul. How are you feeling right now?
Mike D’Antoni: I think we are young – real young – but we have a lot of good young players and good contracts and added Amar’e who is a legitimate top-10 player in the league, if not the best power forward in the league. We added a quality point guard who played in the playoffs last year, so it is really very exciting.
NYKnicks.com: What is it like for you reuniting with Amar’e?
D’Antoni: It’s good, just because he is so, so good. We have to keep adding talent to the roster, and like I said we will do that. But Amar’e is a big piece. I am looking forward to watching him play and putting up those highlight reel plays for us.
NYKnicks.com: I am going to say a few names if you can just give me the first word or two that comes to your mind. Anthony Randolph.
Mike D’Antoni: Talent.
NYKnicks.com: Raymond Felton
D’Antoni: Gritty.
NYKnicks.com: Kaleena Azubuike.
Mike D’Antoni: Toughness. A good shooter.
NYKnicks.com: Amar’e.
D’Antoni: Toughness. And he will and can perform on the big stage.
NYKnicks.com: Ronny Turiaf.
Mike D’Antoni: Energy.
NYKnicks.com: Timofey Mozgov.
D’Antoni: Athletic. Prospect.
NYKnicks.com: Mike D’Antoni
Mike D’Antoni: Quite a lot happier than yesterday. (laughs)
NYKnicks.com: What have you seen out of the rookies so far here at Summer League?
D’Antoni: I like them. I like them a lot actually. I think all three of them have a chance. Landry Fields is probably better than what we thought. The same for Andy Rautins - he’s good. And Jerome Jordan is a bit of a prospect, but they all have possibilities of sticking and contributing in the league.
NYKnicks.com: A lot has been said about Bill Walker…
Mike D’Antoni: He looks fantastic. He put in a lot of work to get himself fit and he is to be commended for that. He got his weight down a lot and still has a little bit more to go. But he’s good and we will see where he goes. But he has a lot of potential.
NYKnicks.com: And how about Toney Douglas?
D’Antoni: The same thing. He has put in a lot of work and he always come through with a lot of effort. He is learning how to play point guard and he will be good.
NYKnicks.com: Now you are only a couple months away from going back to Italy. What are your thoughts about taking the Knicks over there for the exhibition games?
Mike D’Antoni: It will be good. I am excited to start this year off. To be in Italy and do it there will be fun.
NYKnicks.com: Finally, Knicks fans have been waiting for this moment for a long time. What do you want to tell them?
D’Antoni: That they have been great. Hang in there with us and we are building this team to where it should be and are on the right track. We’ve got some real good pieces and we are going to get some more.
