NBA: D’Antoni accepts Knicks’ offer

NEW YORK — Mike D’Antoni is set to become coach of the New York Knicks, bringing his entertaining offensive style from the Phoenix Suns to a team coming off one of the worst seasons in its history.

A person within the NBA told The Associated Press on Saturday that the Suns coach has accepted an offer from the Knicks. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no official announcement had been made.

D’Antoni had two years left on his contract. Suns owner Robert Sarver wouldn’t confirm that D’Antoni had taken the New York job, but said, “Mike called me this morning to thank me, so I figured this was up.”

The offer is reportedly for $24 million over four years, making him one of the league’s highest-paid coaches. The Chicago Bulls also interviewed D’Antoni for their coaching job.

The Knicks said they would not comment. A message was left for D’Antoni and his agent, Warren LeGarie.

D’Antoni led the Suns to a 55-27 record last season and was coach of the year in 2005. He replaces Isiah Thomas, who was fired in April after the Knicks went 23-59, tying the franchise record for losses in a season.

D’Antoni had a 232-96 regular-season record the past four years, but the Suns were eliminated in the first round by San Antonio last month. The Suns then gave D’Antoni permission to speak to other teams about openings, but hoped he would remain with them.

Instead, he becomes the Knicks’ sixth different coach since the start of the 2002-03 season.

New Knicks president Donnie Walsh had been looking for a coach since removing Thomas on April 18. He previously met with former Knicks guard and television analyst Mark Jackson and Knicks assistant Herb Williams. But he took his time to see what coaches would become available during the postseason.

He found one who won at least 54 games each of the last four seasons. The Knicks, meanwhile, are coming off their seventh straight losing season and haven’t won a playoff game since 2001.