Wow. Mike D’Antoni has resigned as coach of the New York Knicks, sources confirmed to ESPN Wednesday.
D’Antoni’s resignation was first reported by Yahoo! Sports.
The Knicks (18-24) have hit a tailspin in the last two weeks, losing six straight and seven of eight to fall six games below .500 and into a tie for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
New York had high expectations coming into this season with Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler on the roster. After struggling through the first six weeks, though, the Knicks went 8-1 in a nine-game stretch in mid-February on the strength of point guard Jeremy Lin, who electrified both the fan base and his teammates after being claimed off waivers in late December.
But once Anthony returned from injury and the Knicks’ recent slide began, the discontent from it created a gulf between Anthony and D’Antoni.
The New York Post reported in Wednesday’s editions that Anthony would welcome a trade, which he denied at the team’s morning shootaround. The report also said Anthony was unhappy in part because he believed D’Antoni and interim general manager Glen Grunwald do not trust him.
Anthony denied that, too.
“I don’t want to be traded,” Anthony said Wednesday morning. “I don’t know where that foolishness came from, so let’s put a cap on that and make (sure) this the last time I hear about that.”
He added: “I support Mike 100 percent regardless of what is going on, as far as us losing basketball games. We all need each other right now and this is the best time to come together and stick with one another. … There’s a lot of things being said out there about Mike, about myself, and it’s just a bunch of nonsense right now.”
-ESPN
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
#NBA Mike D’Antoni Has Resigned as Coach of The New York Knicks!!!
Posted by Unknown on 10:26 PM
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