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NBA's D'Antoni Enters Hall of Fame, Recalls 'Linsanity' and Harden

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • NBA coach Mike D'Antoni has been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
  • During his induction speech, D'Antoni fondly recalled the "Linsanity" phenomenon sparked by Jeremy Lin during his time coaching the New York Knicks.
  • He also expressed gratitude to James Harden for his trust and performance during their time with the Houston Rockets.

Legendary NBA coach Mike D'Antoni has officially been enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, marking a significant milestone in his illustrious career. D'Antoni, known for his fast-paced "Seven Seconds or Less" offense, coached for 16 seasons with teams including the Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Houston Rockets.

During his Hall of Fame induction speech, D'Antoni shared memorable moments from his coaching tenure. He particularly highlighted the "Linsanity" craze that captivated New York City during Jeremy Lin's unexpected rise with the Knicks. D'Antoni recounted how, despite Lin initially being on a 10-day contract and facing potential release, he ultimately gave the Taiwanese-American point guard a chance after strong recommendations from his coaching staff.

I said he hasn't practiced with us, but the coaches told me 'Coach, trust us, he knows how to play,' and then Linsanity exploded! This is one of the most unforgettable moments for me and many New Yorkers.

— Mike D'AntoniRecounting the beginning of Jeremy Lin's rise to fame with the Knicks.

"I said he hasn't practiced with us, but the coaches told me 'Coach, trust us, he knows how to play,' and then Linsanity exploded!" D'Antoni recalled, emphasizing it as one of his most unforgettable moments. He also lauded James Harden, crediting the star guard's trust in his offensive system for his MVP award and multiple scoring titles during their time with the Rockets, calling Harden one of the most talented players he has coached.

Coach, just give me the damn ball!

— James HardenD'Antoni humorously recalled Harden's likely reaction to being asked to play point guard.
About this summary

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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