Denver Nuggets NBA 2015 news: Mike D' Antoni interviewed for vacant head coaching position

Mike D' AntoniWikimedia Commons

In their pursuit to find a new head coach for the upcoming 2015-16 season, the Denver Nuggets had a meeting with veteran coach Mike D' Antoni.

According to Yahoo Sports, league sources reported that Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly had a sit-down interview with D' Antoni Tuesday in California.

The report said D' Antoni's style of coaching which prioritizes a running game will fit the Nuggets and would help them play faster in the future.

The 64-year-old started his head coaching career with Olimpia Milano from 1990-1994 before transferring to Benetton Treviso where he stayed until 1997.

D' Antoni's first coaching job in the NBA was with the Nuggets in 1998-1999 but was fired after a lackluster performance.

He then joined the Portland Trail Blazers as an assistant coach from 2000-2001 and returned to Benetton Treviso from 2001-2002.

Following his second stint in Italy, D' Antoni returned to the NBA in 2003 and became the head coach of the Phoenix Suns (2003-2008), New York Knicks (2008-2012) and the Los Angeles Lakers (2012-2014)

Denver was without a real head coach since firing Brian Shaw last March as reported by ESPN and was replaced by assistant Mark Hunt who has been with the Nuggets for five seasons after spending also five seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Yahoo Sports reported that Hunt is still a strong candidate for the Nuggets' vacant head coaching position despite the team interviewing D' Antoni.

The report also said that former Sacramento Kings head coach Michael Malone already had a conversation with Connelly and may also have a sit-down interview with the Nuggets' general manager.

The Nuggets failed to make it to the playoffs for the second-straight year after finishing the season at the bottom half of the Western Conference managing to win only 30 games against 52 losses, six games less than their previous season total.