Pau Gasol got home from the game and read about it on Twitter, while Dwight Howard got a midnight message on his BlackBerry. They shared most Los Angeles Lakers fans' mix of surprise, trepidation and anticipation.
Just when everybody thought the Lakers were getting back together with Phil Jackson, they switched course in the middle of the night and went with Mike D'Antoni.
The Lakers reacted with ample excitement and a little bewilderment Monday to their front office's surprising decision to hire D'Antoni as coach Mike Brown's replacement over Jackson, the 11-time champion who discussed the job at his home Saturday and apparently wanted to return. D'Antoni, who receives a three-year, $12-million deal, didn't even interview for the job in person, speaking to the Lakers over the phone.
"It has been crazy, but all this stuff will just make this team stronger," said Howard.
The Lakers' third coach in four days won't take over the team until later in the week. D'Antoni still hadn't been cleared to travel Monday after undergoing knee replacement surgery earlier in the month, although the Lakers are optimistic the former Knicks and Suns coach will arrive in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
So interim coach Bernie Bickerstaff was still in charge Monday when the Lakers gathered for an informal workout ahead of today's game against San Antonio. Just two weeks into the regular season, the Lakers (3-4) are about to start over with a new offence and another coaching staff.
"It's been a zoo," said forward Antawn Jamison. "But as I was telling somebody, it should be a lot easier to adjust to than the system we were trying to get adjusted to early on in the season. We've got Steve [Nash] that can help us out."
Two Lakers who supported both Brown and his two potential replacements weren't available in El Segundo to weigh in on the hire. Nash missed the workout while getting treatment on his injured leg, while Kobe Bryant left before it ended to share a helicopter ride back home to Orange County with point guard Steve Blake, who needed an exam on his abdominal injury.
Howard and Gasol both believe D'Antoni's up-tempo style can work well for the Lakers.
"It's a great system, [but] I don't think he ever had a defender such as myself or Dwight Howard on those teams," Metta World Peace said. "So his defence should be self-explanatory, and his offence is amazing, so it should be fun for Laker fans."
