Longtime NBA head coach Mike D’Antoni has been chosen for enshrinement in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s 2026 class, Arizona Sports 98.7’s John Gambadoro reported.
D’Antoni, 74, had already been announced as a finalist in February and will enter the Hall as a contributor. The West Virginia native spent parts of four NBA seasons as a 6’3” guard in the 1970s before turning to coaching, eventually becoming one of the league’s most influential offensive minds.
Success with the Suns
D’Antoni’s most celebrated stretch came in Phoenix from 2003 to 2008. His “Seven Seconds or Less” approach helped the Suns compile a 253-136 regular-season record (.650) and make back-to-back trips to the Western Conference finals in 2005 and 2006.
Late-career Run in Houston
He closed his NBA head-coaching career with four strong seasons in Houston. From 2016 to 2020, the Rockets went 217-101 (.682) under his guidance, falling one win short of the NBA Finals in a seven-game West finals loss to Golden State, the eventual champion.
Other NBA Stops
Earlier head-coaching stints were less successful. He posted a 14-36 mark with Denver during the 1998-99 lockout season, went 121-167 over nearly four years with New York, and finished 67-87 across parts of two seasons with the Lakers.
Overall Record
Across 16 NBA seasons, D’Antoni’s teams amassed a 672-527 regular-season record and a 54-56 playoff mark. Before rejoining the NBA, he also spent several years coaching professionally in Italy.
Formal induction ceremonies for the Hall’s 2026 class are scheduled for later that year in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Source: Hoops Rumors
