On a scale of New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson to an infant car-surfing on the German Autobahn, D'Antoni's job security falls somewhere in between.
Citing an anonymous source, Stephen A. Smith, speaking on ESPN's First Take, flat-out indicated D'Antoni won't be coaching the Lakers next season.
"I had a source tell me last night [that] Mike D’Antoni is gone at the end of the season," Smith said (h/t Lakers Nation's Corey Hansford). "He won’t be there [...] I’m just telling you, that’s the word coming out of L.A."
The writing on the wall has never been easier to read.
And Kobe Bryant's displeasure has never been easier to hear.
Speaking during a press conference on the heels of our own Kevin Ding reporting he was done for the season, Bryant was, as usual, an open book.
From ESPN Los Angeles' Dave McMenamin:
You got to start with Jim. You got to start with Jim and Jeanie and how that relationship plays out. It starts there and having a clear direction and clear authority. And then it goes down to the coaching staff and what Mike (D'Antoni) is going to do, what they're going to do with Mike and it goes from there. It's got to start at the top.
Well, that's awkward.
Shamelessly questioning the stability of your current head coach during the season isn't standard practice. Not even if you're not playing, and not even if you're Bryant.
But there Bryant was, demanding change, wondering aloud if that included alterations on the sideline.
Or was he playing a different angle, not necessarily "wondering," but pleading?
According to Sporting News' Sean Deveney, Bryant has "no interest" in playing for D'Antoni next season. If true, D'Antoni should just pack his bags now. In Los Angeles, ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
