Rockets reportedly adding Will Weaver to new coaching staff

The Rockets are adding Will Weaver to the staff of assistants for new head coach Stephen Silas, per Marc Stein of The New York Times.

Weaver, who most recently coached the Sydney Kings in Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL), was a finalist for the lead job in Oklahoma City (which ultimately went to Mark Daigneault). Shortly after the Thunder made their hire, Weaver committed to Houston.

Weaver’s Kings registered the NBL’s best overall record last season, along with the league’s top defensive rating.

Weaver coached Jae’Sean Tate in Sydney, and the Rockets are believed to have “serious interest” in signing Tate as a free agent this offseason. The presence of his former head coach probably can’t hurt those chances.

Here’s how ESPN’s Olgun Uluc describes Weaver’s unique bio:

Weaver was strongly considered for the New Orleans Pelicans’ head-coaching vacancy before Stan Van Gundy signed a four-year deal to lead the team.

Weaver, 36, was the runner-up for the National Basketball League’s Coach of the Year award after leading the Kings to a league-best 20-8 record. The Kings would end up withdrawing from the 2020 Grand Final series against the Perth Wildcats in March amid concerns about COVID-19.

Weaver is held in high esteem among the NBA community, having served as a special assistant to Brett Brown with the Philadelphia 76ers and having held the same position under Kenny Atkinson with the Brooklyn Nets. Weaver was the head coach of the Long Island Nets, the Brooklyn’s G League affiliate, before assuming his role as head coach of the Kings.

Weaver, a Texas native, has been part of the Australian Boomers’ coaching staff since 2014.

Sydney Kings head coach Will Weaver is currently in quarantine in Oklahoma City as he continues to emerge as a candidate for the Thunder's vacant head coach position, sources have told ESPN.

Via @OlgunUluchttps://t.co/c33Vv1a2kD

— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) November 6, 2020

Silas’ staff of assistants currently includes Weaver, John Lucas, Jeff Hornacek, and Rick Higgins. While the 47-year-old Silas is becoming a full-time head coach for the first time, he has plenty of experience on that bench — with Lucas and Hornacek each having led at least two NBA franchises, and Weaver having head coaching experience in Australia.

At his introductory press conference, Silas cited “experience” and “diversity of thought” as the key criteria for finalizing his staff.