Mike D'Antoni makes immediate impact with Sixers

Share

PHOENIX — The Sixers did all they could to downplay Mike D’Antoni’s first practice. They only reluctantly made him available to reporters after Saturday’s shootaround, and D’Antoni was quick to say this remains Brett Brown’s team.

But D’Antoni appeared to make an immediate impact as the club’s new associate head coach.

“You saw him installing one set, fixing some things, and you see his expertise in the offense,” forward Nerlens Noel said. “Pick and roll basketball, you already see some things he can help us with.”

You never would’ve known the Sixers were 1-30 as they worked out on the Phoenix Suns practice court. D’Antoni, hired Dec. 18, sported a wide smile following a week-long film-watching binge to get caught up on his new team.

Jerry Colangelo, D’Antoni’s former boss in Phoenix, addressed the team for the first time since being hired as chairman of basketball operations earlier this month. He then watched the spirited workout from a perch behind one basket with general manager Sam Hinkie.

And Brown talked glowingly of Ish Smith, the point guard reacquired in a Thursday deal with New Orleans.

“This middle third of the year, we truly feel we’re 0-0 with a new light,” Brown said.

It’s that kind of enthusiasm that brought D’Antoni back to the bench.

“The biggest factor why I’m here? Brett’s a great guy,” D’Antoni said. “After a while you just want to be around good people and they’re good people. From what I’ve heard, the players are buying in and good guys. As a coach, that’s all you want.”

D’Antoni, who also coached the Knicks and Lakers, had been out of the league since leaving Los Angeles in 2014. He was back in his native West Virginia when Colangelo called.

“I always wanted to get back in,” the 64-year-old D’Antoni said. “And I found out you can’t play golf in the wintertime, so I had to go to work. No, I’m just happy to be here.”

His role and how things will fit remain a bit of a mystery. D’Antoni likes to push the pace, just like Brown. But can a former Spurs assistant balance his way with D’Antoni’s style?

“I was lucky to go to five NBA championships with a system and I believe in certain things, too,” Brown said. “And then you have great respect for what was built here in Phoenix. So somewhere out there you try to connect the dots.”

D’Antoni, who figures to be Colangelo’s eyes and ears, said his intention is to remain with the team past this season.

“I hope,” D’Antoni said. “I hope we’re successful.”

His quest to help turn around the NBA’s worst team began with one new offensive set introduced at a morning shootaround in the town where he led the Suns to two Western Conference finals appearances a decade ago.

“How cool is it to bring in Mike D’Antoni?” Brown said. “To me to have a hybrid of Spurs-world and like old-Suns world and how it meshes, from a basketball enthusiast standpoint I love it.”

Contact Us