Mike D’Antoni and Daryl Morey met for a late dinner Saturday after eliminating game 5 of the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals.
Before D’Antoni went to bed that night, he had talked to everyone about the teams from players to management, but sources tell The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Kelly Iko that he hadn’t heard from Tilman Fertitta yet.
There was an expectation of a phone call from the property to discuss the season and a plan to talk about the return.
D’Antoni continued to expect a phone call from Fertitta the next morning but sources say it never arrived.
When D’Antoni embarked on the Houston plan, it was decided that he would not seek another contract with the team. D’Antoni told his agent Warren LeGarie to deliver the message while the plane was in flight.
As the plane descended in Houston, D’Antoni told Morey, his staff and the players of the decision. Morey was shocked but understood and respected D’Antoni’s decision.
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