Sat May 10 14:15:35 2008

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Report: D'Antoni accepts offer to coach Knicks

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New York, NY (Sports Network) - Mike D'Antoni will reportedly bring his run-and-gun coaching style to the "Big Apple" next season.

The Boston Globe reported on its website Saturday that D'Antoni, who was granted permission by the Suns after their first-round exit from the playoffs to talk with other teams, has settled on the Knicks.

The Knicks, under new general manager Donnie Walsh, fired head coach Isiah Thomas last month, bringing a close to his disastrous two-year run, during which New York stumbled to a 56-108 record.

D'Antoni, conversely, was reportedly on the outs with Phoenix management despite his successful stint with the Suns, who he led to a 253-136 mark in four-plus seasons. The club twice reached the conference finals under D'Antoni, but wasn't able to make the next step and advance to the NBA Finals.

The Suns granted D'Antoni permission to speak with other clubs after Phoenix lost their Western Conference quarterfinal series to the Spurs in five games. The Knicks were not the only club vying for his services, however, as the Chicago Bulls were also reportedly in the mix.