Mike D’Antoni, a two-time Coach of the Year who has coached five different NBA teams since 1998, is once again expected to be a candidate for teams making head coaching changes this offseason, according to Jordan Schultz of ESPN (Twitter link).
League sources tell Schultz that D’Antoni is receiving interest from all three teams that currently have head coaching vacancies — the Trail Blazers, Celtics, and Magic.
D’Antoni is currently an assistant on Steve Nash‘s staff in Brooklyn, and Schultz suggests the Nets may not grant interview requests for D’Antoni until after their season is over. Brooklyn is currently the championship favorite, meaning the club could be playing into mid-July — that timeline may dissuade D’Antoni’s potential suitors from making him a top target.
Still, D’Antoni has an impressive résumé that includes a 672-527 (.560) regular season record as the head coach of the Rockets, Lakers, Knicks, Suns, and Nuggets. He has a 54-56 (.491) career mark in the playoffs — his teams have won 10 postseason series, but have never appeared in the NBA Finals. The closest D’Antoni came to the Finals was in 2018 when the Rockets lost in seven games to the eventual-champion Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.
Even if Portland, Boston, and Orlando go in another direction with their respective head coaching hires, D’Antoni could have other options. For instance, the Pacers – who continue to mull Nate Bjogkren‘s future – were said to have interest a year ago and could renew that interest if they move on from Bjorkgren.
Draw Interest but unlikely to be hired
Celtics and Blazers want playoffs success
Magic need a young coach
Portland would make sense. High scoring guards who don’t play defense. Looks like they’re going to hire Billups though.
D’Antoni makes sense as Celtics HC as his coaching style matches the Celtics strengths.
You might have a point. The team are naturally good defenders but they struggle with offensive consistency. D’Antoni addresses that need.
I dont believe is a good options for Portland, the blazers need a defensive coach D Anthony and his small ball destroy the Rockets could be the same at Portland. Offensive teams win games, defensive team win championships.
Nets play no defense and will probably win this year
I think the Bucks will beg to differ.
How so? For all intents and purposes their series is already over. Even if the Bucks found a way to tie up the series, all the Nets would have to do is bring back Harden and they’d win in 6 rather than 4 or 5.
Wally he means that the Nets DO play defense. This series has shown thus far that’s a fact.. they play a little bit of defense. This all can’t be the Bucks ineptitude on offense can it? I think that’s what he meant. I might be wrong.
Portland problem is defense. They have enough offense to beat any team but unfortunately its just who scores the most.
Whatever you do, do NOT ALLOW any new people to be NBA coaches! Old people only! Stealing jobs from the young, just like in all other professions.
Actually, there’s far more examples (professionally speaking) in life where the young steal the jobs from the old, but ok sure…poor young people…puh-leeze
That’s not stealing (also never ever happens, you lie) – that’s how it’s supposed to be. Old people are supposed to retire, but boomers love to hoard money and jobs.
If you are over 60 and have over 7 figures in the bank – RETIRE! Your kids are broke because YOU are holding the job spaces that rightfully belong to them. Stop being such terrible people for once and do the right thing, not act like spoiled 4 year old brats, you are over 50 – act like it.
Sure thing champ…
Lol wow
Sure, because Steve Nash, James Borrego, Stephen Silas, Taylor Jenkins, Chris Finch, Mark Daigneault and Nick Nurse all had tons of experience as an NBA head coach before they got their current jobs in the last few years.
No new people allowed in the NBA.
7/30 = not good enough, needs more.
Silas was an assistant coach for 20 years.
I can’t remember a prior period in NBA history where such a high percentage of HC’ing hires are of first-time HCs. Many without HC experience at any level. There is also much higher turnover, and thus many many more HC’ing hires. In short, the opportunity for coaches who’ve never been an NBA HC getting their first gig is historically high, and the resume they’ll need to interview, historically light. The opportunity to be fired is also historically high. So, recycling still happens, but not as much beyond the made men who’ve had at least some success.
Pacers
All those teams could use him. Probably not good for rebuilding Magic. He might be able to help Kemba. He can help a team. Probably go to to Pacers now. Pacers with a lottery pick for a young vet team. Can make big strides next yr.
Despite Olshey’s apparent new found appreciation of defense, I wouldn’t rule out Portland. Though, Stotts clearly won’t like the narrative that he was fired for his team’s defense, and replaced with MDA.
Why is D’Antoni being considered for jobs,he is All offense his teams never win due to him focusing on one side of the ball. Just like someone said earlier defense win championships,I would like to see more African American coaches being considered especially younger who can relate to the players,older coaches demand more which is a turnoff in Today’s nba.
Why would he leave the easiest job in the NBA. Mark Jackson should coach the Pacers. Unless he doesn’t want to leave TV like JVG.
If Mark Jackson leaves TV he sould consider the Celtics
Its a shame because JVG and MJax are unbelievably terrible at calling games on tv. As a fan, I would much prefer they coach (or do nothing at all if they are already financially secure forever).
They were the first two commentators to do the “long, irrelevant personal rant over the gameplay” thing that so many do now that is beyond the worst thing about pro sports today. I do not care about what any commentators don’t like about the game – call the game or tell us what you like about it, or retire and go hang on a beach or something. Get off my tv if you think your opinion is important enough to let plays of the week go uncalled because you were whining like a little spoilt brat child over it.
Geez man.. Talk about whining up in here. This whole thread you’ve been crying about everything. For what it’s worth. Van Gundy and Jackson are awesome at their job. There’s a reason the games they do have higher viewing. Get a clue, youngin.
older coaches demand more, which is a turn-off!?!?!?!?
The word you’re seeking here is accountability, that’s what they demand.
How to value the noisy advice of someone thinks not only that Kerr is the worst, but that he contributed nothing to GSW. Also that race & age are the main qualifications, since that is the most visually obvious to anyone.
IMO Young coaches are the worst, because they’re full of themselves, and have no experience to fall back on. Their ideas are untested.