HoopsHype.com Rumors

Preferring a small staff to the one he inherited from previous coach Mike Brown, current Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni will not retain assistants Chuck Person and Bernie Bickerstaff for the 2013-14 season. Fellow 2012-13 assistant Eddie Jordan recently accepted the head coaching job at Rutgers University, leaving three assistants on D’Antoni’s staff: Steve Clifford, Darvin Ham and Mike’s brother Dan D’Antoni. Lakers.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Chuck Person, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Bernie Bickerstaff, Darvin Ham, Eddie Jordan, Dan D'Antoni, Steve Clifford 

Mike Bresnahan: Assistant coaches Bernie Bickerstaff and Chuck Person have been told they won't be retained by the Lakers. Twitter @Mike_Bresnahan

Los Angeles Lakers, Chuck Person, Coaching, Bernie Bickerstaff 

Jamison is fine with the scrutiny attached to a major media market and the Lakers’ winning tradition. What he didn’t anticipate was Los Angeles firing coach Mike Brown five games into the season. Former Bobcats coach/general manager Bernie Bickerstaff filled in before D’Antoni took over. “We had three different training camps with three different coaches,” Jamison said. “So it’s been a lot of confusion on the players’ parts, trying to figure everything out.” Charlotte Observer

Los Angeles Lakers, Mike D'Antoni, Bernie Bickerstaff, Mike Brown, Antawn Jamison 

All that different? “It’s night-and-day between Mike Brown and D’Antoni. Bernie was somewhere in between, trying to hold things together,” Jamison described. “It was totally different, as far as the things each wanted offensively and defensively.” Charlotte Observer

Los Angeles Lakers, Mike D'Antoni, Bernie Bickerstaff, Mike Brown, Antawn Jamison 

Bernie Bickerstaff will celebrate Thanksgiving with the greatest winning percentage of any former Lakers coach, and you laugh, and he laughs, but those five games he served as the interim boss between Mike Brown and D'Antoni were a triumphant lap in a lifelong trip across a landscape of poverty and racism. In quieting Lakers chaos and leading them to a 4-1 record that may eventually represent four of the most important wins of the season, Bickerstaff traveled from a Kentucky mining hollow to Hollywood. From a gravel court and coat hanger rim to Staples Center. From childhood outhouses to basketball's penthouse. "Growing up the way I grew up, you get through all that, this is like candy," he said. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Bernie Bickerstaff 

For parts of 13 seasons, he has been the head coach for four different franchises — Seattle, Denver, Washington and Charlotte. He came to the Lakers with a 427-538 record that is considered as reflective of his rosters — he was the first coach for the expansion Bobcats — as his coaching ability. When he was asked by General Mitch Kupchak to replace Brown moments after the coach was suddenly fired, Bickerstaff shrugged and said fine. The Lakers loved him, averaging 103.8 points a game during his tenure, a figure which would currently lead the league. And now that it's over? Now that his moment of national glory has come and gone in seemingly seven seconds or less? "The one person I've got to be all right with is me, and I'm OK with me," said Bickerstaff. "There's no levitating here. I'm going to keep my feet on the ground and enjoying everything around me." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Bernie Bickerstaff 

The feel-good story even extended to assistant coach Bernie Bickerstaff, who improved to 4-1 since taking over game responsibilities after Mike Brown was fired Nov. 9. Bickerstaff was all but guaranteed a spot on D'Antoni's coaching staff. "Unless he loses tonight," D'Antoni joked before tipoff. "No pressure." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Bernie Bickerstaff 

D'Antoni told reporters before the game that Bickerstaff would remain on his staff for the remainder of the season. "That's nice to know," Bickerstaff said, when informed of D'Antoni's plans to keep him as an assistant coach. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Bernie Bickerstaff 

Mike Trudell: Mike D'Antoni will not be on the sideline tonight, after all. Bernie Bickerstaff will continue to run the ship. Twitter @LakersReporter

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Bernie Bickerstaff 

Dave McMenamin: Bernie Bickerstaff on coaching again tonight: "Yeah, yeah." Twitter @mcten

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Bernie Bickerstaff 

Ken Berger: D'Antoni, recovering from knee replacement, is "day-to-day," the Lakers say. Decision not to coach tonight was made about an hour ago. Twitter @KBergCBS

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Bernie Bickerstaff 

Kevin Ding: Mike D'Antoni decided an hour ago his knee wasn't ready yet. Not coaching Lakers tonight vs. Rockets. Twitter @KevinDing

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Bernie Bickerstaff 

Kevin Ding: Next Lakers game and possible D'Antoni debut is Tuesday night at home vs. Brooklyn. Twitter @KevinDing

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Bernie Bickerstaff 

Question: Will Bickerstaff be retained on the staff? Kupchak: "That is going to be Mike’s decision, but Bernie has done a wonderful job. He stepped into an awkward situation and really did a wonderful job." Sulia

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Bernie Bickerstaff 

Question: Will D'Antoni add anybody to the staff if he does part ways with Bickerstaff or any of the rest of the assistant coaches? Kupchak: "I’m not sure he’s going to add people. I think he’s going to add his brother (Dan D'Antoni) and then evaluate the present staff and that may take a little bit of time, so that’s kind of where it is right now." Sulia

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Bernie Bickerstaff, Dan D'Antoni 

D’Antoni, who still lives in Westchester, underwent major knee-replacement surgery 2 1/2 weeks ago and will need doctor’s clearance to get on the bench. Interim coach Bernie Bickerstaff said D’Antoni is expected to fly to L.A. tomorrow for his introductory press conference. D’Antoni is expected to bring in his former Knicks and Phoenix assistants, Phil Weber and Dan D’Antoni, to L.A. “I think it’s a great opportunity for him,’’ Dan D’Antoni told The Post. “New York was a great place to be and this is one of the top franchises in the league. It’s top end. Mike’s a good coach and they’re good players.’’ New York Post

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Bernie Bickerstaff, Dan D'Antoni, Phil Weber 

Coach Bernie Bickerstaff gave newly hired Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni a few insights about the players and their plans for San Antonio, then asked him for a favor. “I told him to hurry up and get this seat …. it’s hot,” Bickerstaff told a crowd of reporters after Monday’s practice. Orange County Register

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Bernie Bickerstaff 

Mike Trudell: Bickerstaff said he's sure Mike D'Antoni will know how to tweak his system for the current personnel. LAL brass obviously discussed that. Twitter @LakersReporter

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Bernie Bickerstaff 

Arash Markazi: Kobe on Bickerstaff: "He's good. He's getting the f--- out of the way." Twitter @ArashMarkazi

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Bernie Bickerstaff 

Mike Trudell: In related news, Bernie Bickerstaff will continue to serve as interim coach for at least the next few days. Twitter @LakersReporter

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Bernie Bickerstaff