NBA News: Rockets Targeting Nick Nurse, Former 76ers Coach

The Houston Rockets are targeting a former 76ers assistant along with a notable Eastern Conference coach as they search for a new head coach.

The Houston Rockets are on the hunt to replace Stephen Silas. As the team wrapped up its 2022-2023 season with a 22-60 record, the Rockets decided they wouldn’t accept the fourth-year option on Silas’s contract.

Houston won’t waste time looking for a replacement. Not long after Silas became a free agent, several prospects were linked to the Rockets’ head coaching hunt.

On Tuesday, Shams Charania reported several prospects would schedule interviews with the Rockets to potentially replace Silas ahead of the 2023-2024 NBA season.

Golden State Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson is among those who are expected to get an interview, per Charania. Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin is on that list as well. Among the free agent coaches garnering interest are Ime Udoka, Frank Vogel, and James Borrego.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski threw another name in the mix, as the Rockets are seeking permission to interview Phoenix Suns Associate Head Coach Kevin Young.

Young started his professional coaching career in the G League. In 2013, he was named an assistant for the Delaware 87ers (now Blue Coats), the affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers. After taking over as the head coach from 2014 to 2017, Young joined the Sixers’ main staff as an assistant until 2020.

Lastly, the Rockets are still targeting Raptors head coach, Nick Nurse. As Nurse’s future in Toronto remains unclear, the Rockets are leaving the door open to potentially hire the head coach, who has an NBA title under his belt. 

Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for All76ers, a Sports Illustrated channel. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_.