Editor's Note: This is the first in a series counting down the top five local sports stories of 2012. We’ll be counting down with one story each day, culminating with the release of the top local sports story of the year on Dec. 31.
Mullens native Mike D’Antoni was named the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers on November 13 following the firing of former head coach Mike Brown, after the Lakers opened the 2012-2013 NBA season with a 1-4 record.
D’Antoni signed a three-year contract, worth $12 million, with an option for a fourth year, with an NBA franchise that already had W.Va. connections in the past in state natives and WVU graduates Hot Rod Hundley and Jerry West — the latter a Pro Basketball Hall of Fame member and player, coach and general manager with the Lakers.
“This is significant news to an already significant basketball history of West Virginia, Mike being hired to coach one of the most storied basketball teams in the world” said Greg White, a friend of D’Antoni, former head coach at Marshall University and himself a Mullens native.
“It’s a great opportunity for Mike and his family. He’s been very innovative with his offense in the NBA. It was a tall task, being hired five games into the season without a training camp and (himself) coming off a knee surgery. But he’ll get it going there. I’m very proud of him. Think about it. For a guy from Mullens to get to coach the Lakers - that’s unbelievable.
“I’m sure there was a huge smile on Jerry West’s face when the announcement was made,” White added.
Through Tuesday, the Lakers were 14-14 overall (13-10 under D’Antoni) and riding a five-game win streak.
In coming to LA, D’Antoni, 61, was reunited with Steve Nash, whom the coach shared the best years of his career with in Phoenix from 2003-2008.
D’Antoni had a less-than-successful stint as head coach for the New York Knicks, where he posted a 115-167 record over four seasons. He resigned as coach of the Knicks on March 14.
He was also an assistant coach for the gold medal winning Team USA in the 2012 London Olympics under Mike Krzyzewski.
The Lakers had failed to perform well under Brown, a coach known for a slashing and cutting offense, as well as a strong defense. Brown had previously coached LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers before being removed from the position following a 2010 collapse against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Playoffs.
The Lakers had long been rumored to be courting their former coach, 11-time NBA champion Phil Jackson before announcing the D’Antoni hire. Jackson has since stated he was “stunned” by the move to hire D’Antoni over himself and had contacted former assistant coaches about a position on his staff. Jackson had met with Lakers Vice President Jim Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak was also reported as having asked for a different travel schedule than the rest of the team. The legendary coach suffers from several ailments, most recently undergoing a knee replacement.
D’Antoni is known as one of the best offensive minds in all of basketball. He was given the task of maximizing all of the offensive talents the Lakers possess, including Nash, Kobe Bryan, Metta World Peace, Pau Gasol and their newest addition -- Dwight Howard, a team seemingly built for D’Antoni’s pick-and-roll system.
D’Antoni comes from a historic basketball family. His father, the great Lewis D’Antoni collected 450 wins in his 35 year career at Pineville, Mullens and Chesapeake High in Ohio. His older brother, “Dandy” Dan, serves as an assistant coach on the Lakers staff.
D’Antoni had a stellar college career playing for Marshall University in the 70’s. His number 10 was retired by the Thundering Herd in 2009. He was drafted by the Kansas City-Omaha Kings in the 2nd round of the 1973 NBA Draft and spent three seasons there. He would go on to play for the Spirits of St. Louis of the now defunct American Basketball Association for one season before returning to the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs for two games. D’Antoni then spent the following 12 seasons playing for Olimpia Milano in Italy.
Today's Sports Front
Mullens native D’Antoni brings innovative coaching style to Lakers
Top 5 stories of 2012
- Today's Sports Front
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A dream start, nightmare end
Lightning on the horizon brought Wednesday's final game of the state softball tournament to an end.
The James Monroe Lady Mavericks had felt a shock long before that. -
One step away from Charleston
A trip to Charleston — with a lot more on the agenda than a tour of the capitol building and a shopping spree at Charleston Town Center — will be up for grabs tonight for three area teams that are one win away from punching their ticket to the WVSSAC State Baseball Tournament at Appalachian Power Park.
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Tanner is Summers County coach
After weeks of controversy, it appears Summers County High School officially has a new football coach.
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WVU baseball changes up pitching lineup for Big 12 Championship
Randy Mazey’s attention has been on everything but baseball in recent days, as the West Virginia University coach has been out in front of his team’s effort to help the tornado victims in Oklahoma, where his team has been this week preparing for the Big 12 Baseball Championships, which begin today at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Okla.
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Woodrow downs defending AAA champs
It’s a play that Woodrow Wilson has practiced everyday this season and has rarely had to utilize.
It’s a good thing the Flying Eagles did practice it; it saved their season and led to a 2-1 victory over defending state champion Princeton. -
No repeat for Warriors
Independence has been on a tear offensively the entire month of May. It didn’t stop Tuesday, even against Wyoming East ace Derek Thornton.
The Patriots led 5-0 after two innings, and Brian Sexton — backed by that very offense and some sparkling defense — gutted out a complete game in a 7-5 win in the Class AA Region 3 semifinals Tuesday night. -
’Hounds hold off upset bid from Man Hillbillies
Valley’s potent offense never came to life, but the Greyhounds are still alive.
Valley (22-7) — with several players hitting .400 or better this season — could muster just three singles against underdog Man (6-20-1) in one of two Class A Region 3 baseball semifinals Tuesday, but the ’Hounds manufactured two runs in the crucial fifth inning to finally go ahead of the stubborn Hillbillies and escape with a 3-2 victory. -
WVU baseball team helps tornado victims
West Virginia University head baseball coach Randy Mazey was having lunch at an Oklahoma City restaurant Monday afternoon, keeping a close watch on the television set.
With every passing minute, the tornado that devastated the Oklahoma town of Moore, was moving closer and closer to his location and its path was being documented by a local television station. At one point, the coach even looked out the window to see if he could see the approaching funnel. -
Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship Format Changed
In the wake of this week’s devastating storm in the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, the Big 12 Conference is postponing the start of the 2013 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship. No. 3 seeded WVU scheduled to take on Kansas at 4 p.m. (Central) on Thursday.
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Patriots, Warriors meet in anticipated matchup
The matchup many people expected will take place today.
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