Phil Weber & Dan D'Antoni added to bench

NEW YORK, June 20, 2008 – New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that Phil Weber and Dan D'Antoni have been hired as assistant coaches. In addition, Herb Williams has been retained to complete the coaching staff on the bench.

"We have three top quality assistant coaches that will be great assets as we work towards our goal of bringing winning basketball back to New York," Walsh said. "Phil and Dan enjoyed tremendous success with Coach D'Antoni in Phoenix, while Herb has been a great part of our franchise for many years."

Weber joins the Knicks after nine seasons as an assistant coach in Phoenix, which included 4½ seasons as D'Antoni's assistant. The Northport, NY native's specialty is in skill and player development. He co-founded an academy for player development in Los Angeles with current Nets General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe. After leading Long Island Lutheran HS to a state championship, Weber played for Jim Valvano at North Carolina State. He served as an assistant coach at the University of Florida, Chaminade University and Iona College before joining the Suns in September of 1999.

Dan D'Antoni spent the last three seasons as an assistant under Mike D'Antoni in Phoenix. The Mullens, WV native played college basketball at Marshall University and began coaching as a senior when he guided the school's freshman team that featured his younger brother. Following school, D'Antoni embarked on a 30-year high school coaching career in South Carolina where he founded the Beach Ball Classic, one of the most prestigious high school tournaments in the country that has showcased such talents as Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Vince Carter and Jason Kidd.

Williams will enter his eighth season on New York's bench, following a distinguished 18-year NBA career.

The NBA's New York Knickerbockers basketball team, completing its 62nd year of operation, is part of Madison Square Garden, L.P. Cablevision Systems Corporation owns Madison Square Garden, L.P., which includes the New York Knicks (NBA); the New York Rangers (NHL); the New York Liberty (WNBA); the Hartford Wolf Pack (American Hockey League); MSG Entertainment, which includes concerts and events at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, The WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden, and the Beacon Theatre, as well as the legendary Chicago Theatre, and which manages wholly-owned live entertainment properties including the Radio City Rockettes and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular; MSG Media, which is comprised of MSG and MSG Plus; fuse, the music television network; and the Madison Square Garden arena complex, located in the heart of the New York metropolitan area.