Mike D’Antoni has been officially recognised as a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, getting inducted as part of the 2026 class.
D’Antoni joined Joey Crawford, Mark Few, Doc Rivers, Amar’e Stoudemire, the 1996 U.S. Women’s National Team, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw, and Candace Parker as part of the 2026 Class to be enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for his incredible contributions as a coach.
He was at the helm of a basketball story that captivates fans to this day, leading the Knicks and being the impetus behind the legendary ‘Linsanity’ run led by point guard Jeremy Lin.
Mike D’Antoni remembers his Knicks tenure and ‘Linsanity’
During his Hall of Fame speech, D’Antoni congratulated the Knicks on their 2026 title before reflecting on his tenure with the franchise, speaking about Linsanity and how it impacted his career, with Jeremy Lin in the audience.
“New York is a special place. One of the most unforgettable moments of my career… was Linsanity… Jeremy, he 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. Jeremy gave New York and all of us the ride of our lives.”
D’Antoni might have been unwilling to let Lin get his shot, but he was forced into giving him that opportunity in February 2012, with Lin then using D’Antoni’s system to dominate and average 25.0 points and 9.2 assists over an incredible nine-game stretch that captivated the entire NBA world.
It established Lin as an NBA player who’d retire after becoming a 2019 NBA Champion and enjoying nine seasons in the league.
D’Antoni only made the postseason once in three-and-a-half seasons with the Knicks, but would revolutionise the NBA with the Houston Rockets and James Harden after this stint.
D’Antoni went 121-167 as the head coach of the Knicks, inarguably his worst head-coaching performance of his career after the success he enjoyed with the Steve Nash-led Suns before this.
Nonetheless, Linsanity is something that every New Yorker will hold close to their heart, even now, after celebrating an NBA Championship win this summer.
Read more: