Mike D’Antoni’s wife, Laurel D’Antoni, who is still living in Westchester with their high-school-aged son, Michael, said she can’t understand why Knicks fans would boo the ex-coach in his Garden return tonight with the Lakers.
The way she sees it, her husband stepped away at the perfect time last March when he realized Mike Woodson was best to carry on with the job.
“If anything, they should be happy,’’ said Laurel D’Antoni, who will attend the game. “They moved on and built the team around someone else, so they’re good. It worked out. They’re doing great. They should be thrilled.’’
Mike D’Antoni planned to sit out this season, watch his point-guard son play his senior season at Rye Country Day and rehab from knee replacement surgery he had one day after Hurricane Sandy. But D’Antoni jumped at the chance to coach the Lakers, who are a disappointing 9-13. He recently said he regretted taking the Knicks job over staying in Phoenix with Steve Nash. However, Laurel D’Antoni said he did not regret it, adding, “He would’ve done it all over again in a second. He was talking about not taking coaching Steve Nash lightly.’’