Mike D'Antoni is a former professional basketball player and coach who has had a successful career in the sport. He played college basketball at Marshall University before being drafted by the Kansas City-Omaha Kings in 1973. D'Antoni played in the NBA for several teams, including the Kings, San Antonio Spurs, and Denver Nuggets, before retiring in 1990.
After his playing career, D'Antoni began coaching, starting as an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets in 1990. He then moved on to become an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns, where he helped develop the team's fast-paced, high-scoring offense. In 2003, D'Antoni became the head coach of the Suns, and he continued to implement his fast-paced style of play, which became known as "Seven Seconds or Less."
Under D'Antoni's leadership, the Suns had several successful seasons, including reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2005 and 2006. D'Antoni was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2005. However, the Suns were unable to win a championship during D'Antoni's tenure, and he left the team in 2008.
D'Antoni then went on to coach the New York Knicks from 2008 to 2012. During his time with the Knicks, D'Antoni continued to implement his fast-paced style of play, but the team struggled to find success. D'Antoni resigned from the Knicks in 2012.
After a brief stint as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, D'Antoni became the head coach of the Houston Rockets in 2016. Once again, he implemented his fast-paced style of play, which was a perfect fit for the Rockets' roster. Under D'Antoni's leadership, the Rockets had several successful seasons, including reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2018. D'Antoni was named NBA Coach of the Year for the second time in 2017.
D'Antoni's coaching style has been influential in the NBA, and many teams have adopted his fast-paced, high-scoring approach to the game. He is known for his innovative offensive strategies and his ability to develop players. D'Antoni's career has been marked by success, and he is considered one of the best coaches in the NBA today.
In addition to his coaching career, D'Antoni has also been involved in international basketball. He coached the Italian national team from 2009 to 2011 and led them to a fourth-place finish in the 2011 EuroBasket tournament.
Overall, Mike D'Antoni's basketball career has been marked by success as both a player and a coach. He has had a significant impact on the sport, and his innovative offensive strategies have influenced many teams in the NBA. D'Antoni's legacy in basketball is secure, and he will be remembered as one of the great coaches of his generation.
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