COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — USA Basketball says assistant coach Mike D’Antoni will miss the world championships because of a back injury and be replaced by Toronto Raptors coach Jay Triano.
D’Antoni, the New York Knicks coach, will continue working with the Americans when they train next week in New York, but won’t join them in Europe and instead will rest the back before the NBA season begins.
D’Antoni’s absence, first reported by ESPN.com, is another blow to a U.S. team that already has been weakened by player withdrawals. The Americans have implemented some of D’Antoni’s offensive schemes while he worked under Mike Krzyzewski over the last four years.
