Report: Houston Rockets hire former Suns head coach Mike D’Antoni
May 26, 2016, 2:57 PM
Philadelphia 76ers associate head coach Mike D'Antoni sits with his team against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, in Los Angeles. D'Antoni used to be the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)
(AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)
After joining the Philadelphia 76ers as an associate head coach in December, it didn’t take long for Mike D’Antoni to find another head coaching job in the NBA.
Houston is finalizing a deal to hire Mike D'Antoni as head coach, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) May 26, 2016
D'Antoni is finalizing a four-year deal with the Rockets that will include a team option in final year, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) May 26, 2016
D’Antoni, 65, coached the Suns during one of their most successful eras. In five seasons on the Phoenix bench from 2003 to 2008, D’Antoni compiled a 389-253 record and led the Suns to consecutive Western Conference Finals appearances.
He could not repeat the success he had in Phoenix in coaching stops with the New York Knicks (121-167 in four seasons) and the Los Angeles Lakers (67-87 in a season-plus).
The Houston Rockets were in the Western Conference Finals last season. D’Antoni’s pace on offense will surely benefit former Arizona State Sun Devil James Harden, who has become one of the best offensive players in the NBA.
D’Antoni replaces interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
