Mike D’Antoni will not return as head coach of the Houston Rockets next season.
What We Know:
- ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski originally reported the news that D’Antoni informed the Rockets that he would not be back. Wojnarowski also tweeted a statement by D’Antoni and his wife Laurel. D’Antoni’s contract expired at the end of the 2020 season and he will now become a coaching free agent.
Mike and Laurel D’Antoni statement to ESPN on departure from Rockets pic.twitter.com/XypyT8bgC0
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 13, 2020
- D’Antoni’s future with Houston has been in question for some time now. Since Tilman Fertitta bought the Rockets in 2017, no agreement has been reached on a new contract for D’Antoni. D’Antoni reportedly turned down multiple extension offers before the 2019-2020 season.
- There are several head coach positions available in the NBA, including the Bulls, Thunder, Pelicans, 76ers, and Pacers. D’Antoni has reportedly drawn heavy interest from the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers, both of which have playoff-ready rosters and All-Star talent.
- D’Antoni, 69, became an NBA head coach in 2003. He has been at the helm for the Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Houston Rockets. A two-time Coach of the Year winner, D’Antoni is known for popularizing the fast-paced, offense-oriented style of play in the modern NBA.
- D’Anotni went 217-102 in four seasons with Houston. He won the 2017 Coach of the Year Award and led the Rockets to their most successful seasons since the 90s. The farthest the Rockets got during his tenure was the 2018 Western Conference Finals where they lost in Game 7 to the eventual champion Golden State Warriors.
The Houston Rockets’ season ended on Saturday in a crushing Game 5 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. With another disappointing defeat, the Rockets have lost in the second round of the playoffs three out of the last four seasons.
