The Lakers have a new head coach in town, and it’s not Phil Jackson. In breaking news, as first reported by Mike Bresnahan of the L.A. Times and later confirmed by Lakers spokesman John Black, Mike D’Antoni has signed a 4-year deal with the Lakers. As rumors were flying that the team was very close to bringing back Phil Jackson, it appears that his asking price was just too high.
Several hours before the news broke, both Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant endorsed D’Antoni.
D’Antoni most recently coached the New York Knicks and acted as an assistant this summer for Team USA in the Olympics. He won NBA Coach of the year while in Phoenix after posting 33 more wins in 2004-2005, than in the previous season.
According to Bresnahan, he will officially take over the Lakers within a week or two, depending upon how quickly he recovers from knee surgery. Bernie Bickerstaff will remain the team’s interim coach.
[jwplayer config=”lakersnation_player” file=”http://youtu.be/66STXct74Ig” autostart=”false”]Reporter: Follow @SerenaWinters
Editor: Michael Hain
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