NEW YORK – Maybe there’s a big-name coach out there who can bring out the best in Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks.

Mike D’Antoni decided Wednesday he wasn’t that guy. And so, he resigned, surprising even his bosses.

“It wasn’t just Carmelo,” interim general manager Glen Grunwald said. “I think it was our whole team was not playing up to where we thought they could be and I know Mike was as frustrated as anyone about that, and that’s what led him to that decision, that maybe there needs to be a new approach and look at it.”

Assistant Mike Woodson will serve as interim head coach.

The Knicks’ brief resurgence last month has been replaced by a six-game losing streak that has dropped them into a tie for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, along with speculation of friction between D’Antoni and Anthony, his All-Star forward.

D’Antoni ran the Knicks through their morning shootaround, but not before stopping into Grunwald’s office at the Knicks’ training center and telling him and fellow executive Allan Houston of his intentions.

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Grunwald called MSG chairman James Dolan, who went up to the Westchester training center for what he called a “very honest” conversation with D’Antoni.

Dolan later said the parting was mutual.

“He clearly felt it was best for the organization if he were not to continue as coach of the team. He did offer to stay,” Dolan said during a press conference. “After a long discussion, we did agree it was best for the organization to have new voice moving forward.”

D’Antoni said before the season that the Knicks should be a contender, but they haven’t looked like one in the last 10 games — all since Anthony returned from a groin injury.

New York is just 2-8 in that span, and D’Antoni wasn’t the only one who couldn’t figure out why the Knicks couldn’t win with their best player.

“It’s hard to explain why we have struggled and I don’t really want to get too deep on that,” Woodson said. “I think what’s more important is that we move forward.”

Anthony said after the shootaround he supported D’Antoni “100 percent,” denying a New York Post report that he would like a trade before today’s deadline.

 


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