As of Thursday, April 20, the coaching search for the Rockets is now approaching the end of its second week. In-person interviews with a number of candidates have already taken place in Houston.
After finishing with the NBA’s worst or second-worst record for three straight years, Houston (22-60) recently declined to pick up the team option on the contract of former head coach Stephen Silas.
With that, the Rockets entered into a search for his replacement. As usual, led by general manager Rafael Stone, they’re casting a wide net and making plenty of contacts, with the interview list including both former head coaches and current assistants around the league.
However, in the wake of Silas not working out after being a first-time hire in 2020, it’s believed that head coaching experience is more of a priority in 2023. Thus, former coaches such as Frank Vogel, James Borrego, and Ime Udoka are among the list of confirmed interviews.
Here’s a look at where the Rockets appear to be at in their search, as of Thursday afternoon. This list does not yet include Toronto’s Nick Nurse, since he remains under contract with the Raptors as head coach and will not interview unless a parting of ways is announced.
Per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, interviews with Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson (formerly head coach of the Nets) and 76ers assistant Sam Cassell are planned but not yet scheduled, as a result of their teams playing in the 2023 NBA playoffs.
Some of these interviewees may also factor into Houston’s potential staff of assistants beneath its new head coach. The Rockets plan to fill the lead role first, and then that person will be able to make decisions regarding who will fill out the surrounding coaching staff.
