Lakers Coach Mike D’Antoni responded to Amar’e Stoudemire’s comments after his team’s practice Thursday. A day earlier, Stoudemire said Mike Woodson was the first “defensive coach” in his career. But rather than taking offense at Stoudemire’s observation, D’Antoni, who coached him for eight seasons with the Suns and the Knicks, congratulated him on his new attitude. “I think it’s great,” D’Antoni said. “I think it’s great that he’s listening. He might have forgotten that Mike Woodson was also running the defense the last year I was there, so I don’t know if he just didn’t pick that year to listen. But Amar’e’s great. Sometimes you say things, but hopefully, that’s another step he can take forward and help his game. That would be great.”

via Nate Taylor of The New York Times