Updated 12:44 AM EDT, Fri, Mar 29, 2024

LA Lakers News and Rumors: Mike D'Antoni Could Remain Head Coach Next Season

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Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak hinted on Wednesday that Mike D'Antoni could still be the team's head coach next season despite the lackluster season the team is having this year.

Kupchak told the LA Daily News that he thinks D'Antoni has done a great job, pointing out that the veteran coach has performed well despite the unfortunate circumstances that have surrounded the team over the past two seasons.

"I don't want to get into that with those kind of questions," Kupchak said when asked if D'Antoni will still be the coach next season. "He's done a great job and dealt with a year last year when he was here part time and has handled a ridiculous amount of injuries this year."

On the other hand, Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant had a more straightforward answer when asked about D'Antoni's future with the team.

In an interview on "The Dan Patrick Show," Bryant said he is unsure whether or not D'Antoni will remain with the Lakers next season, but he also added that the former Coach of the Year has yet to get a fair shake due to injuries that hit the team.

"I don't know," Bryant said of D'Antoni's Lakers future, The LA Times reported. "It's been tough on him. The two years that he's been here, he's been dealing with so many injuries left and right. He hasn't really gotten a fair deal."

Since taking over from Mike Brown early in the 2012-13 NBA season, D'Antoni has only posted a 62-77 record. The Lakers currently hold a measly 22-45 record, and they are set to miss the playoffs for the first time since the 2004-05 season.

Bryant, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury, recently called out the team's front office, demanding changes this summer to turn the team into a title contender next season.

The 16-time All-Star revealed that he had talks with team executive Jim Buss, whom he said is confident that they can turn it around next season.

"Jimmy is really adamant about the direction that he wants to go with this organization," Bryant said. "He feels really confident in that fact that he can be able to turn it around." 

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