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Knick fans pleased with Mike D'Antoni

By Ryan Chatelain | ryan.chatelain@am-ny.com

4:51 PM EDT, May 11, 2008

FILE: D'Antoni To Replace Thomas As Knicks Head Coach

It was announced May 10, 2008 that former Phoenix Suns coach Mike D'Antoni has accepted the position as the head coach of the New York Knicks replacing Isaiah Thomas. (Domenic Centofanti, Getty Images / May 11, 2008)

While the Knicks' hiring of Mike D'Antoni has received mixed reviews in the press, fans yesterday gave the selection of the new coach a thumbs-up.

Then again, they just seemed happy that anyone other than Isiah Thomas will lead the home team at Madison Square Garden next season.

"He's an improvement for the Knicks," said Sean Gonzalez, 13, of Queens Village. "They were terrible with Isiah. D'Antoni's been to the playoffs. The Knicks will be much better with time."

D'Antoni beat out former Knick Mark Jackson and ex-Mavericks coach Avery Johnson for the job. The Knicks have confirmed that D'Antoni has agreed in principle to contract terms, reportedly for four years, $24 million. An introductory news conference could be held as early as tomorrow.

D'Antoni spent five seasons as coach of the Phoenix Suns, leading them to the playoffs each of the past four seasons and to the Western Conference finals in 2005 and 2006.

Because of ongoing tension between D'Antoni and the Phoenix front office, the Suns gave the former NBA Coach of the Year permission to pursue a job elsewhere after the Spurs eliminated the Suns in the first round of the playoffs. The Knicks outbid the Chicago Bulls for D'Antoni's services.

Last month, the Knicks fired Thomas, who had a 56-108 record over two seasons, as coach about two weeks after Donnie Walsh was named the team's new president. The Knicks haven't had a winning season since 2000-01 and haven't reached the playoffs since 2003-04.

"The losing streak is because of their coach," said Francine Meighan, 46, of Ozone Park. "With D'Antoni's spirit and understanding, he'll pull it through."

About the only argument against the D'Antoni hiring is that the coach's up-tempo offensive style may not fit the Knicks' slower personnel. During their deepest postseason runs, the Suns had two-time MVP point guard Steve Nash feeding the ball to all-stars Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion.

The Knicks, meanwhile, have underachievers under contract such as Eddy Curry, Zach Randolph and Stephon Marbury, who the Suns coincidentally traded to New York in 2004, shortly after D'Antoni was hired.

"If they're not winning [at first], it ain't the coach," said Anthony Walker, 45, of Bedford-Stuyvesant. "They may have to bring in some new players."

Kathleen Bulson contributed to this report.

Mike D'Antoni:

-57 years old

-Born and raised in Mullens, W.V.

-Married to wife Laurel and has one son, Michael, 14

-Drafted by NBA's Kansas City-Omaha Kings in 1973

-Was a star point guard for Olimpia Milano in Italy (1978-90)

-Head coach in Italy (1990-97, 2001-02)

- Denver Nuggets head coach (1989-99)

-Phoenix Suns head coach (2003-08)

-2004-05 NBA Coach of the Year