All along, Mitch Kupchak had said the Los Angeles Lakers would bring back Mike D’Antoni for next season. Since then, there had been some reports suggesting that D’Antoni would want certain conditions fulfilled in order for him to return.
Apparently, those conditions weren’t met.
Ramona Shelburne of ESPN LA abruptly reported on Wednesday that the coach has made the decision to resign from his position:
Mike D’Antoni has resigned as Lakers coach, source tells ESPN
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) May 1, 2014
This gives the Lakers a better chance to possibly re-sign Pau Gasol, who has said all season long that D’Antoni’s offense was a bad fit for him. Kobe Bryant was also never all that supportive of the coach.
No one, though, has been more vocal (in a negative way) about the offensive-minded coach than Magic Johnson, who somewhat inexplicably reveled at the thought of not having to watch D’Antoni coach his favorite team anymore.
Happy days are here again! Mike D’Antoni resigns as the Lakers coach. I couldn’t be happier!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 1, 2014
Talk about an over-the-top statement.
Johnson has the right to dislike D’Antoni’s ways, but to go as far as say he is downright happy about someone else’s resignation – especially from someone of Johnson’s stature – seemed highly unnecessary and disrespectful.
The tweet was questionable enough for NBA reporter David Aldridge, who probably has the utmost respect for Johnson, to publicly question it:
Um…RT @MagicJohnson Happy days are here again! Mike D’Antoni resigns as the Lakers coach. I couldn’t be happier!
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) May 1, 2014
When Aldridge is calling you out, you know you probably messed up.
NBA Owners Respond to Sterling’s Unprecedented Punishment
James Park is the chief blogger of Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on twitter @SheridanBlog.