Mike D’Antoni resigned as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers after one of the worst seasons in the NBA club’s history.
The Lakers announced D’Antoni’s resignation less than 18 months after they brought him in to take the place of Mike Brown early in the 2012-13 campaign.
The Lakers under D’Antoni’s Lakers went a total 67-87, including a 27-55 mark this season with injured superstar Kobe Bryant missing all but six games.
Their .329 winning percentage was the second-lowest in the Western Conference and the Lakers’ worst since the 1957-58 Minneapolis Lakers went 19-53 (.264).
“Given the circumstances, I don’t know that anybody could have done a better job than Mike did the past two seasons,” Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said in a statement.
“On behalf of the Lakers, we thank Mike for the work ethic, professionalism and positive attitude that he brought to the team every day. We wish him the best of luck.”
D’Antoni, 62, is 455-426 as an NBA coach for Denver, Phoenix, New York and the Lakers.