SUBSCRIBE to Next Media Animation: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=NMAtv<br /><br />Mike D'Antoni, and not Phil Jackson, is the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. D'Antoni reportedly signed a three-year deal with the Lakers worth $12 million with an option for a fourth year.<br /><br />Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NMAtv<br />Webpage: http://www.nma.tv/<br />Twitter @nmatv: https://twitter.com/#!/nmatv<br />Tumblr: http://nmatv.tumblr.com/<br /><br />The Lakers entered the season with high hopes after obtaining Dwight Howard and Steve Nash in the off-season, but fired previous head coach Mike Brown on Friday after the team got off to a 1-4 start.<br /><br />Hiring D'Antoni came as a surprise to many, including Jackson, who seems to have thought that the job was his to lose. Lakers management at one time said there was a 95%-5% chance that Jackson would return for his third stint at the Lakers' head coach.<br /><br />Jackson has won 11 NBA championships, more than any other coach. D'Antoni has yet to lead a team to the NBA finals. Jackson has the trust and the respect of his players. D'Antoni lost his last locker room in New York.<br /><br />The Lakers are saying Jackson wanted too much — including an ownership stake and too much control over team decisions — but we suspect it has more to do with his strained relationship with Jim Buss, who is taking control of the team from his father, Lakers owner Jerry Buss.
