Larry Hughes Calls Mike D’Antoni’s Rotation ‘a Joke’

The New York Knicks have hit a rough patch — with their game and team harmony.

The unfolding drama between Larry Hughes and coach Mike D'Antoni has been far more exciting to follow than the 17-24 Knicks, who are 1-4 in their past five games. Hughes is upset with his playing time and called his coach's rotation "a joke" on Saturday in Detroit. D'Antoni contends that his team lacks "a desire to win." Regardless of which side is true, the conflict is becoming a major distraction.

The veteran shooting guard has played eight minutes in January. The other eight games, he’s been a healthy DNP.

"I’m just frustrated," Hughes told The New York Times. "There’s no other way to put it. I want to be out there playing and help the team win. I want the opportunity to do that, that’s all I’m looking for."

After his candid comment about D'Antoni's rotation, Hughes ducked out before Sunday’s practice was over to avoid the media. The Knicks told the press he was taking a long bathroom break. Hughes confirmed he was at practice, but left to avoid discussing the issue.

The Knicks' coach has not shown particular harshness to his guard. D'Antoni showed dissatisfaction with his team after losing to the Pistons on Saturday — saying his team lacks "focus and urgency" — but he’s doing his best to downplay the Hughes controversy.

"Guys are going to squawk," he told the Times. “You win 60 games, and they’ll still squawk. You know, the shrimp cocktail’s not good enough on the plane. Most places, it goes over people’s heads. Here, it becomes a national story. That’s fine and that’s how it is, and we can deal with it. It just doesn’t change anything."

Combine a stubborn coach with a history of short rotations and a player who’s riding the pine in the last year of a team-high $14 million deal, and it’s not exactly a match made in heaven.

Nate Robinson can relate to what Hughes is experiencing. Robinson had courtside seats for 14 games in December, but in a more diplomatic fashion, the 5-foot-9 spark plug called his banishment a humbling experience. In the past two games, he has rejoined the rotation, replacing starting point guard Chris Duhon, who took the court for only 20 minutes in Monday’s 99-91 win over the Pistons, before keeping Hughes company.

Even president Donnie Walsh has been drawn into the spat. Walsh met with Hughes days prior to Sunday's game, where Hughes suspiciously saw those several minutes of playing time.

"Mike and I are on the same page with this team," Walsh told the New York Daily News. "He coaches the team. He makes the substitutions. I understand why he does it. We talk about it. I met with Larry and listened to what he had to say. That's my job. I told Mike about that. But I didn't tell him before the game. I don't order Mike to play anybody. I don't do that. Never have."

If Hughes continues voicing his displeasure about the situation, a buyout could be on the horizon.