Knicks fire Chaney; Wilkens to take over

Herb Williams, an assistant under Chaney, took over for Wednesday’s game and guided the club to a 120-110 victory over the Magic. Wilkens will take charge on Thursday.

"I think he’s (Wilkens) a perfect fit," team president Isiah Thomas said at a news conference at Madison Square Garden.

Wilkens is the all-time winningest NBA coach with 1,292 victories. Under Wilkens, the Seattle SuperSonics won the NBA championship in 1979. Wilkens, whose record is 1,292-1,114, has also coached Portland, Cleveland, Atlanta and Toronto. He is one of just two coaches to lead four different teams to 100 wins.

In 1996, he coached the U.S. Olympic team to the gold medal at the Atlanta Games. He mutually agreed to leave his position as head coach of the Toronto Raptors after the 2002-03 season after three years at the helm. This will be his 31st season as a head coach in the NBA.

Chaney guided the Knicks to just a 15-24 mark this season and a 72-112 record since taking over for Jeff Van Gundy on December 10, 2001. He had come under heavy scrutiny of late and has been serenaded by fans at home with loud chants of "fire Chaney."

Chaney, who joined the Knicks’ coaching staff in August 1995, was in his fourth head coaching stint. He won NBA Coach of the Year honors by leading the 1990-91 Houston Rockets to a 52-30 mark.

In 11 seasons as a player in the NBA, Chaney and was part of two NBA championships as a member of the Boston Celtics (1969 and 1974). Chaney also was a five-time NBA All-Defensive Second-Team selection. Drafted by Boston in 1968, Chaney spent nine-plus seasons with the Celtics and also played for the Los Angeles Lakers.