"It was a selfless move," Grunwald said about D'Antoni's decision. "He felt that he had done all he could and he didn't see another way that he could positively affect the team so we that could move forward."

Difficult Situation

D'Antoni, who compiled a 253-136 record in five seasons with the Suns and two-time league Most Valuable player Steve Nash, was brought into a difficult situation in New York.

New York Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni talks with Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin in the first half of their NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Hornets at Madison Square Garden in New York, February 17, 2012.  [Photo\Agencies]

The Knicks were shedding bad contracts to create salary room in time for 2010's illustrious free agent class that included LeBron James, coveted by New York.

After failing to lure James to New York, the Knicks signed free agent Stoudemire, who had played for D'Antoni in Phoenix.

The Knicks then pulled off a blockbuster deal at last year's trade deadline to bring in Anthony from the Denver Nuggets, and they advanced to the playoffs with a 42-40 record before being swept in the first round by the Boston Celtics.

D'Antoni, believed to have opposed trading for Anthony, tried to install a motion offense under the direction of Lin, the NBA's first Asian-American player whose dazzling play sparked a craze dubbed "Linsanity."

But that system did not seem to gel with the talents of Anthony, whose 21.3 scoring average this season is more than three points below his career average.