Athletes - Mike D'Antoni

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	Athletes - Mike D'Antoni

Mike D'Antoni (born May 9, 1951 in Mullens, West Virginia) is a former basketball player, and current head coach of the National Basketball Association's Phoenix Suns (2003–present). Working for the Phoenix franchise since 2003, he won NBA Coach of the Year Award for the 2004-05 after leading the Suns to a 62-20 record and a trip to the Western Conference Finals.

Player career

After a college career at Marshall University, D'Antoni was drafted by the Kansas City-Omaha Kings in the 2nd round of the 1973 NBA Draft. He was all-NBA Rookie Second Team choice for 1974. After 3 seasons for the Kings (1974-1976), he Played for St. Louis Spirits of the American Basketball Association in 1976, and for San Antonio Spurs (again NBA) in 1977.

D'Antoni was then called by the Italian team of Olimpia Milano, starting a great European which turned him later in the club's all-time leading scorer. He was voted the league’s top point guard of all time in 1990 and he paced his team to five Italian League titles, two Cups of Europe, two Cups of Italy, one Korac Cup and one Intercontinental Cup. Being of Italian origins, D'Antoni was also selected to play on the Italian national team for the World Cup in 1989.

D'Antoni nickname in Europe was Arsène Lupin for his ability in stealing balls from other players.

Coach career

D’Antoni began his career as head coach for his most loyal club, Milan: here he remained for four seasons, from 1990 to 1994, leading the club to the 1993 Korac Cup. He was then chosen to coach Palacanestro Treviso (Benetton), another major Italian basketball club. During his tenure (1994–1997), the team captured the Cup of Europe and Coppa Italia (in 1995) and won the domestic league title in 1996-97. Coach D’Antoni's Italian teams went to the playoffs each season, and he was twice voted the league’s Coach of the Year.

First NBA coaching job was with the Denver Nuggets in 1998-99, and was the club’s director of player personnel in 1997-98. He was also an assistant for the Portland Trailblazers in 2000-01 and a scout for San Antonio Spurs during the 1999-2000 season. Recently selected to the coaching staff for the Team USA Olympic Basketball squad under head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Pundits believe his familiarity with the three point shot and the zone defense, hallmarks of the international game, will be valuable assets to the team.

D'Antoni has dual citizenship in the United States and Italy: this made him the first Italian ever to lead a NBA team. He is fluent in both English and Italian.

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