by Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports

El Segundo, Calif. — Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash, who has missed most of the season with an injury, spoke to reporters at the team’s facility today about the team hiring Mike D’Antoni as coach to replace Mike Brown who was fired last week.

Nash played for D’Antoni in Phoenix from 2004-08.

On his reaction to the hiring of D’Antoni...

“I never would’ve predicted him being here as we get a chance to work together again, especially here with this team. I’m thrilled, but definitely shocked as well. I didn’t see it coming. Everything has happened so fast.”

On whether he was disappointed that it wasn’t Jackson…

“Well I mean, of course. In some ways, I thought it was Phil, and so I was geared up for that, and excited in a totally different respect because of his experience and success, and particularly here with this organization. That would have been a whole different circumstance that I would’ve been excited for as well. But I’m back with Mike and thrilled.”

On what D’Antoni brings to this team…

“Well, Mike is a very bright guy, a very bright coach. I think he’s going to do a lot of great things with this group and put us in a great position to succeed. He also makes it fun. I think the fans are going to really appreciate it. He likes the game to be played in a style that’s easy on the eyes, so to speak, and exciting. We’ll build something great here.”

On perceptions that D’Antoni doesn’t care about defense…

“Well I think that, you know, Mike might even admit to that a little bit. At the same time, I know when he was with us (in Phoenix), it was difficult. We didn’t really have defensive pieces, and I think to be a good defensive team, a legitimately good defensive team in this league, you need rim protection. And we (never) really had that in Phoenix. We were small. We started Amar’e (Stoudemire) at center. We weren’t making money on the deal no matter how many hours we put in on the defensive end in practice. So to … [For more on Steve Nash says D'Antoni will build something great in L.A., click here.]