D’Antoni Named New Knicks Head Coach

May 13, 2008

Just over a month after joining the team as its new President, Basketball Operations, Donnie Walsh named Mike D'Antoni as the 24th head coach in New York Knicks' 62-year history on Tuesday.

In D'Antoni, the Knicks have brought one of basketball's most creative and innovative coaches to one of basketball's greatest stages. They also scored a big off-court victory over the Chicago Bulls, another team that had a shot at D'Antoni's services once the former NBA Coach of the Year decided to end his tenure in Phoenix.

"After a long search that lasted over three weeks, I decided that Mike D'Antoni is the right fit to coach the New York Knicks as we build this team back to contention," said Walsh. "Mike is a proven winner, not only in this league, with a long, impressive coaching resume in the NBA and abroad."

In six NBA seasons with the Suns and Denver Nuggets, D'Antoni has compiled a remarkable .608 winning percentage (267-172). Named the league's top coach three years ago in 2004-05, D'Antoni has guided the Suns to 54 or more wins in each of the last four seasons while earning a reputation as one of the greatest offensive strategists in today's game.

Prior to his coaching career, D'Antoni played three full NBA seasons before pursuing a long career in Italy, where he was one of the best players in Europe. He went on to become one of the top coaches in European basketball before landing his first NBA job with the Denver Nuggets in 1998. In Europe, he took home two Italian League titles, two Euroleague titles, two Cups of Italy, the Korac Cup and the Intercontinental Cup.

Although he started his NBA coaching career in Denver, it was in Phoenix that D'Antoni made his mark with his exciting "Seven Seconds or Less" offense that encourages players to quickly get up and down the court, taking the first open shot opportunity that presents itself. The style, a fan favorite throughout the league, is one many teams have tried to imitate, but none have matched D'Antoni's success with it.

It is also a style that is extremely popular with his players, as noted by Knicks swingman Quentin Richardson, who had perhaps his finest NBA season playing under D'Antoni in Phoenix.

"Mike was great to play for. He's an easygoing guy who teaches a style most players would love to play under, so you can imagine how much we all loved playing for him when I was in Phoenix," said Richardson. "He brings great leadership, a winning resume, confidence, and guys buy into what he's doing and what he's teaching. He's a guy you really want to play hard for to get some wins. Personally, I had the best year of my career with him, and I had the most fun with him as well. I'm really looking forward to doing it again."

Richardson has Walsh to thank for reuniting him with his one-time coach, as Walsh himself played a significant and pivotal role in D'Antoni's decision to spurn his other suitor, Chicago, in favor of New York.

"There's a lot of factors for me wanting to come here, and Donnie Walsh was a major factor," said D'Antoni. "He's somebody that I've felt really comfortable with. He's been one of the best in the business for a long time …I don't know how quickly this will get done, but I do know that with Donnie it will get done as soon as possible, and that I will be working with somebody along the way that will be enjoyable to work with. That was very important criteria. I do know that Donnie will be by my side all the way. He will be with me, and the trust he gives me and the organization being able to do what it needs to do to try to win, I couldn't ask for anything better."

Walsh sees his partnership with D'Antoni in a similar vein, and is equally eager to turn the Knicks back into a winning franchise.

"We will work together to build this team to be competitive as quickly as possible, and bring excitement back to Madison Square Garden," Walsh said. "I have admired Mike for a long time, and I know exactly what he's capable of as a coach. He teaches his teams how to win, and that's probably the most simplistic, but profound statement. I look forward to working with Mike. I think he'll be a great partner to work with to turn this thing around."

Walsh said he went through a lengthy, rigorous process in his search for the correct person to right the Knicks ship, and did his best to convey the storied history, pride, and advantages that comes with being a Knickerbocker.

"Every candidate I interviewed, I told them what the great parts of the New York Knicks are," said Walsh. "We have a first class operation, we have a great practice site, we have resources, we have great fans, and we play in the greatest building in the world."

The Big Apple and the Knicks legacy clearly played a role in luring the newest head coach.

"This is a first class organization, and one of the biggest factors when it came down to it is that New York is a great place to live," said D'Antoni. "It's a great place to raise a kid, and it's exciting. … I only came here once a year, but I know every time I came here as a coach I had a special feeling. Even as a player, New York is special. There's no doubt about it. I grew up and watched Bill Bradley and all the guys play. So I knew how special it was to come in here, especially when the organization was winning. And that has not changed."

D'Antoni is equally excited about the team he is inheriting, and says he is eager to show the world what he can do with this Knicks roster.

"I'm excited! I think Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson, Quentin Richardson, Eddy Curry, Zach Randolph, I mean, they are mixed a little bit and it will take some work to get them unraveled, but you don't have this payroll if you have bad guys. They have all performed somewhere and done something, and we just have to figure out how they can go together. I think the first line of business is figuring out how we can make this work. ... Anybody can run, and anybody can get up and down the floor. I don't buy this theory that they can't fit my system or I can't fit their system. We'll find a happy medium where we can maximize what they do. We have very talented basketball players, I do know that."

Toward the end of his statement to the press, Walsh stressed that the challenge is here for his new head coach to face and truly make a name for himself. In what is a positive sign for all Knicks fans, it's a challenge that D'Antoni relishes facing head on.

"I know it's a challenge, but I'm so excited to be here with the team and working with Donnie. I'm not naive to think this is going to be easy, but like I said, if you guys give us a little time, we're going to do our best. This is New York. I understand the challenge, but at the same time, if we can get this thing turned around, then that would probably be the highlight of anybody's career. I'd be crazy not to try to do this.

"I don't have a crystal ball, but I will guarantee you that there are 30 teams out there preparing to make the playoffs for next year, and we're going to do everything we can to get there. The only thing I can promise you is that we're going to play hard and we're going to be exciting. So put on your seatbelts, and let's go for it."