NBA: Bryant 'can't wait to get to work' with new coach D'Antoni

The marquee player of the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, wrote on Facebook Monday (Tuesday, PHL time) that he couldn't wait to play under newly-hired head coach Mike D'Antoni, adding that he was happy "to have closure." D'Antoni had been announced as the new head coach of the Lakers, Monday, following rumors that the team was set to bring back the multi-titled Phil Jackson. In a message on the official Kobe Bryant Facebook page, Bryant wrote, "It's been a wild week to say to say the least. "I'm happy to have closure and can't wait to get to work with Coach D'Antoni…spacing, ball movement. And despite the chatter, I believe we will be phenomenal defensively." Although Bryant had wanted a reunion with Jackson, who helped coach him to five NBA championships, he's no doubt pleased that the alternative was D'Antoni, whom he idolized as a child, growing up in Italy, where D'Antoni had played professionally with Olimpia Milano from 1978 to 1990.

Kobe grew up as a fan of D'Antoni's while he was a star point guard for Milan. twitpic.com/bcjlti

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) November 12, 2012

D'Antoni had also served as an assistant on the US men's Olympic basketball team that won gold with Bryant in the 2012 London Olympics. Last Saturday, Bryant also posted, "I had a good relationship with [former head coach] Mike [Brown] and I will continue to have one. I wish him and his family nothing but the best. I spoke with him today and thanked him for all of his hard work and sacrifice." The Lakers had begun 1-4 under Brown, leading to his firing. Under interim head coach Bernie Bickerstaff, they have now won two in a row to improve to 3-4, to tie for third place in the Pacific Division. - AMD, GMA News