In speaking with Donnie Walsh Friday morning, the Knicks president answered a very simple question of mine with a very simple answer.

The answer?

“The coach.”

The question?

“From your experience, how can you keep a young player from having issues developing like Milicic?”

The bottom line for young players like Jordan Hill and even Danilo Gallinari, to a degree, is that they have to be instilled with confidence even when they make mistakes. Hill, the first-round pick out of Arizona, doesn’t seem to have the inside track for any rotation minutes, but the team is relying heavily on Gallinari to produce all over the floor.

“It’s good to have a coach who let’s you play your game,” said Gallinari, who also noted that no young players want to have to look over their shoulders if they make a mistake.

That was the issue in Detroit for Milicic, who is still affected by the way he was handled. Admittedly, Milicic did not ask to be the second overall pick in a loaded draft, but often times teams reach for players with talent, something the big man clearly has.

But, according to Walsh, the key to a young players development is his coach, yet another reason why Walsh made sure to bring D’Antoni to New York. More.