Mike D'Antoni on coaching the Lakers: 'I thought I was gonna get killed' / News - Basketnews.com

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The Los Angeles Lakers had a down year. Struggling Russell Westbrook, dissatisfied fans, lone-warrior LeBron James, injured Anthony Davis, and tons of losing.

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Former Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni sat down with former NBA player JJ Redick in his podcast "The Old Man & The Three" to talk about his coaching career and the Lakers in particular.

Asked about whether there was some friction when the Lakers traded for Steve Nash while also having Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard on the team, the coach was honest.

"Friction? I thought I was gonna get killed," D'Antoni started laughing. "I would say there was some friction. I just couldn't get them on the same page. They didn't like each other, it was contentious."

"We really didn't have the talent. You want to play Steve [Nash], but he wasn't up to it, then he wasn't even there. Kobe was older, he was toward the end, still good, still great, unbelievable, but a very tough personality."

"He and Dwight didn't mesh, just a lot of things, a tough atmosphere. Things just didn't work," D'Antoni explained. "There's always friction as a coach, especially when things aren't going well."

"You know, winning cures a lot," the coach continued. "Everybody loves everybody on a winning team. Losing is something you have to manage, something you have to get through."

When you are set to coach the Lakers, the expectations are at the highest level. "It's either you win a championship or you're not very good," D'Antoni told JJ Redick. "Not all teams can win a championship, obviously, but their past and everything plays in, it's Hollywood, there's a lot of drama down there."

Despite the fact that it was a stressful place to work, D'Antoni had kind words for the Los Angeles area.

"It's a great place. Playing in that arena, whatever it's called now, is great. Like Madison Square Garden, it's the two places where you get up for those games, those games are fun."

"When I was with the Knicks, everyone got up for it. The same with the Lakers right now - everybody's coming in and they little pieces of the armor, like prey they're coming at you."

The full "The Old Man & The Three" podcast episode with Mike D'Antoni:

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