Moments after it was reported by USA Today that Mike Brown had been fired as coach of the Lakers, Mike D’Antoni’s was mentioned by many as a potential replacement.
Yahoo Sports reported that “one candidate prominently being discussed as a long-term possibility: Mike D’Antoni.”
There is one significant problem: The former Knicks coach recently underwent knee replacement surgery and is not yet back on his feet. The surgery would make it difficult for D’Antoni to return to coaching before late December.
According to the Yahoo report, assistant Bernie Bickerstaff will take over an interim basis for the 1-4 Lakers until a full-time replacement is found. But Bickerstaff, according to Yahoo, has told friends that he does not expect to keep the interim title long. If D’Antoni is granted the opportunity he would be at the helm of one of the favorites in the Western Conference and be reunited with point guard Steve Nash, who won two MVPs under D’Antoni’s run-and-gun style with the Suns.
Former Lakers and Bulls coach Phil Jackson and former Jazz coach Jerry Sloan have been the other prominent names mentioned as a possible replacement for Brown.
D’Antoni resigned from the Knicks last March after three-plus seasons with the team. He led the Knicks back to the playoffs in 2011, where they were swept by the Celtics, but had a fractured relationship with Carmelo Anthony. Assistant Mike Woodson replaced D’Antoni as Knicks head coach, and signed a new deal this offseason.
The Lakers began the season with championship expectations after trading for center Dwight Howard and Nash, adding two superstars alongside Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.
But the talented group went 0-8 during the preseason for the first time in franchise history before stumbling into the regular season with an 0-3 start. After finally winning last Sunday, the Lakers looked listless again in a loss at Utah on Wednesday.
“This was a difficult and painful decision to make,” Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak said. “Mike was very hard-working and dedicated, but we felt it was in the best interest of the team to make a change at this time. We appreciate Mike’s efforts and contributions and wish him and his family the best of luck.”
Brown implemented a new offensive scheme this fall that didn’t appear to suit his players’ talents, yet the Lakers also played spotty defense, Brown’s specialty.
The Lakers reached the second round of the playoffs last season in Brown’s first year. The former Cleveland Cavaliers coach replaced Phil Jackson, the 11-time NBA champion.
The Lakers host Golden State on Friday night.
With AP