Lakers picks D'Antoni as new head coach

D'Antoni fan

Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant (L) chats to coach Mike Brown during Game 7 of their NBA Western Conference basketball playoff series against the Denver Nuggets in Los Angeles, California in this May 12, 2012, file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

Bryant, a 14-time All-Star, was a huge fan as a child of D'Antoni's basketball play in Italy, where he grew up, and later got to know him well when D'Antoni was an assistant coach on the US national team.

Spanish forward Pau Gasol, another Lakers All-Star, tweeted on Monday: "We already have a new head coach! I'm sure that Mike D'Antoni will help us be the team that we all want to be! #GoLakers!"

D'Antoni, who is known for his fast-paced offense-oriented system, had a 388-339 record as head coach of the Denver Nuggets, the Suns and the Knicks.

He takes over a Lakers team which is well accustomed to success and bristling with All-Stars but limped to a dismal 1-4 start this season before Brown was abruptly fired on Friday.

At that point, the 16-time NBA champion Lakers had the worst record in the Western Conference following an off-season in which the team acquired All-Star center Dwight Howard and point guard Nash, a two-time league Most Valuable Player.

Last season, the Lakers won the Pacific Division with a 41-25 record and reached the conference semi-finals before falling to eventual conference champions Oklahoma City Thunder in five games.

However, early this season they were hobbled by injuries and struggled under the much vaunted new Princeton offense installed by Brown.

Howard has been easing his way into form after back surgery that ended his 2011-12 season, Nash has missed the last five games due to a leg injury and Bryant has been slowed by a foot injury.

Ironically, the Lakers have since won their last two games under interim coach Bernie Bickerstaff, who is expected to remain in charge for Tuesday's home game against the San Antonio Spurs.

The Lakers are next in action on Friday at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles where they will host the Suns in what is likely to be D'Antoni's first game in charge.