Veteran NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy is set to interview with the Rockets on Wednesday, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.
That interview will conclude Houston’s “first round” of interviews, with Tyronn Lue also viewed as a serious candidate. Since owner Tilman Fertitta was already involved in the initial round, it is not yet known whether there will be a second round to the head coaching search.
Van Gundy was unable to have an in-person interview until now, since he was stuck at the NBA “bubble” in Central Florida as an announcer for ABC’s playoff broadcasts. That might help explain the lengthy nature of Houston’s search, which has gone on for more than a month since Mike D’Antoni’s Sept. 13 announcement that he wouldn’t return.
Besides Lue and Van Gundy, the list of other candidates for the Rockets is believed to include former Brooklyn head coach Kenny Atkinson; Dallas assistant Stephen Silas; Denver assistant Wes Unseld Jr.; Minnesota assistant David Vanterpool; and current Rockets assistant John Lucas.
New #Rockets at #TXSN – Lakers’ title a reminder of challenges ahead for Rockets https://t.co/5LEpTNoVzF
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) October 13, 2020
As for Van Gundy, the 58-year-old hasn’t coached in the league since his stint leading the Rockets from 2003-04 through 2006-07. He has, however, worked as a coach for USA Basketball since 2017.
Known best for his emphasis on defense and toughness, Van Gundy has a career coaching record of 430-318 (.575) over parts of 11 seasons as head coach in New York and Houston. Van Gundy is 44-44 (.500) in the playoffs, including a trip to the 1999 NBA Finals with the Knicks.
The Rockets have scheduled an interview Wednesday with ESPN's Jeff Van Gundy for their coaching vacancy, league sources say
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) October 13, 2020
While the Los Angeles Clippers are also said to be interested in Van Gundy, he reportedly prefers his adopted hometown of Houston.
There is still no definitive timetable for a decision to be made by the Rockets, but talks clearly seem to be progressing at a rapid pace.
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