Mike D'Antoni, known as the 'Run and Gun Master', was officially inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on August 16, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. He coached in the NBA for 16 seasons with teams including the Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Houston Rockets, earning NBA Coach of the Year honors twice [1, 3, 6, 8]. D'Antoni ranks among the top 25 NBA coaches with 672 career wins and has contributed as an assistant coach to USA Basketball, winning two Olympic gold medals [6, 8].
D'Antoni credited his time with the Phoenix Suns for embracing a fast-paced offensive style that reshaped modern basketball tactics. "We were pioneers and had to endure the most criticism," he said, reflecting on pushing the boundaries of the system early on [1, 6].
He identified his 2011-12 stint as head coach of the New York Knicks as especially memorable. During this time, Jeremy Lin, initially on a 10-day non-guaranteed contract and nearly released, caught fire with a breakout run that became known worldwide as 'Linsanity' [1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8]. D'Antoni credited his assistant coaches Kenny Atkinson, Dan D'Antoni, and Phil Weber for urging him to give Lin a chance. "Jeremy was on a 10-day contract and close to being released, but my assistants kept telling me 'Just give him a chance!' Boy, were they right," D'Antoni said [1, 2, 4, 7].
During the 2011-12 season, Lin averaged 14.6 points, 6.2 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game [4]. D'Antoni called the Linsanity period "one of the most emotional and unforgettable moments of my coaching career," saying the energy it brought was nearly as intense as a championship run and captured the spirit of New York fans [1, 2, 4, 7, 8].
While coaching the Knicks, D'Antoni and the franchise attempted to free cap space to sign LeBron James, who ultimately joined the Miami Heat in summer 2010 [5, 8]. The Knicks also narrowly missed drafting Stephen Curry in the 2009 NBA draft, picking one spot behind Golden State [5, 8].
D'Antoni also praised James Harden, calling him one of the most technically skilled players he coached and key to making the Rockets a powerhouse [1, 3, 7].
D'Antoni's Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place on August 16, 2026, marking the culmination of a distinguished 16-season coaching career and contributions to basketball strategy [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8].
