D'Antoni's win, his second Coach of the Year selection with the 2004-05, came in a landslide and was just the third in Rockets history, with D'Antoni joining Tom Nissalke (1976-77) and Don Chaney (1990-91). It also represented the Rockets' season with the team going from doubts and criticism after the slide to 41-41 and selection of D'Antoni to the third-best record in the NBA.
"It's a special honor, but at the same time, I look at it as the organization wins this honor," D'Antoni said. "There's so many people involved. There were so many things that had to go down.