The Rockets' coaching search moved halfway through their expected initial six interviews on Wednesday when the team met with Nuggets assistant coach Wes Unseld Jr., a person with knowledge of the process said.
The team had already met with Mavericks assistant Stephen Silas and former Nets coach Kenny Atkinson, according to the individual familiar with the process.
Timberwolves assistant David Vanterpool is scheduled to meet with the team Friday.
Rockets director of player development John Lucas is expected to interview for the head-coaching position in the next few days with Clippers assistant Tyronn Lue also likely to meet with the team, though the interview with Lue is not yet scheduled.
The initial interviews went well, according to the person with knowledge of the process who said the candidates for far have been “impressive.” But there was not an indication yet of a frontrunner as the team works to determine who would be the right coach for a “unique situation,” given the veteran star power in the Rockets' backcourt of James Harden and Russell Westbrook.
Former Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy also could interview after the completion of the NBA Finals and his return to Houston. Although Van Gundy is not in the bubble in Orlando, the Rockets have indicated there would be time for him to complete his work for ESPN and interview for the position after he returns, according to a person with knowledge of discussions.
Van Gundy has not coached in the NBA since he was let go by the Rockets in 2007 but led USA Basketball to the 2017 FIBA America Cup championship and in qualifying for the 2019 World Cup.
Silas, then an assistant with the Hornets, was the runner-up for the position when Mike D’Antoni became Rockets coach in 2016. He has been on Rick Carlisle’s staff in Dallas the past two seasons and helped run an offense that last season was the top-rated offense in NBA history.
Unseld Jr. is the top assistant for Michael Malone in Denver and was considered key to turning around the Nuggets' defense.
Atkinson, who was the Rockets' director of player development under Kevin McHale before working on D’Antoni’s staff with the Knicks and Mike Budenholzer’s staff with the Hawks led the Nets’ 22-game improvement over his first three seasons in Brooklyn.
Vanterpool spent seven seasons with the Trail Blazers before moving to the Timberwolves last season and has been often cited for the development of the Blazers’ guards, Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum.
Lue, who helped the Cavaliers to the NBA championship in 2016 when he took over for David Blatt during the season and reached the Finals in each of the next two seasons, was a candidate for the position with the 76ers and is expected to meet with the Clippers and Pelicans about their open head coaching positions.
Lucas, the first pick of the 1976 draft, has run the Rockets’ player development program for the past four seasons. He has been the head coach of the Spurs, Sixers and Cavaliers.
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Rockets halfway through with their initial coaching interviews - Houston Chronicle
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