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Sources: Mike D’Antoni, Nuggets discuss coaching vacancy

Mike D’Antoni met with Denver Nuggets management to discuss the franchise’s head coaching opening, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Mike D'Antoni had his best coaching years with the Phoenix Suns. (AP)
Mike D'Antoni had his best coaching years with the Phoenix Suns. (AP)

Denver general manager Tim Connelly conducted a sit-down with D’Antoni in California on Tuesday, league sources said.

D’Antoni’s vaunted running game fits into Denver’s determination that it wants to play faster in the future. Melvin Hunt, the interim coach in the wake of Brian Shaw’s firing, remains a strong contender to retain the full-time job, league sources said.

Along with D’Antoni and Hunt, ex-Sacramento Kings coach Michael Malone has had conversations with Connelly and could soon emerge with a sit-down interview, league sources said.

Denver was 30-52 in the 2014-15 season.

D’Antoni, 64, spent less than a season as the interim head coach with the Nuggets in 1998-99 before re-emerging as the highly successful Phoenix Suns coach for five seasons beginning in 2003. D’Antoni largely revolutionized offensive basketball with his seven-seconds-or-less offense, leading the Suns to the Western Conference Finals twice and the playoffs two more years.

He moved on to the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers, where he managed to make the playoffs once with each franchise.

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