© Patrick Breen-Arizona Republic
Rockets' Nate Hinton Praises UH Basketball's Kelvin Sampson for Coach of the Year: 'I Am So Proud of Him'
Houston Rockets guard Nate Hinton says he is "so proud" of his former college coach Kelvin Sampson, who won his second-career AP Coach of the Year award following a stellar season with the Cougars.
HOUSTON — The University of Houston men's basketball team hired coach Kelvin Sampson 10 years ago on April 2, 2014. Sampson had replaced former coach James Dickey, whose four-year tenure with the program ended with a 64-62 record.
Sampson (264–79) has since revitalized Houston's program by becoming the most winningest coach since the late Hall of Famer Guy Lewis (592–279), who was at the helm of Houston from 1957 to 1986.
Nearly 10 years to the day of his hiring, Sampson took home the Associated Press Coach of the Year award for the 2023-24 season.
He won his second-career AP Coach of the Year award after leading the Cougars to a 32-5 record, which included a Big 12 regular-season title and a trip to the Sweet 16.
Apr 5, 2024; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson speaks at the Associated
Patrick Breen-Arizona Republic
"I am so proud of him and happy for him," Houston Rockets guard Nate Hinton told Inside the Rockets. "It is well-deserved. As you can see, every year, he is in the hunt for Coach of the Year. He is a great coach with or without it. But him winning that is just recognition. We appreciate all of the hard work he has done for us on the court and as young men."
Hinton is one of a handful of former players Sampson guided to a pro career at the University of Houston. He played two seasons under Sampson before signing with the Dallas Mavericks as an undrafted free agent in 2020.
Hinton's best year came during the 2019-20 season. He played a vital role in the Cougars winning their second consecutive American Athletic Conference regular-season title.
He started all 31 games and averaged a career-best 10.6 points and 8.7 rebounds. With eight double-doubles on the year, the then-sophomore guard received second-team All-American Athletic Conference honors and first team NABC All-District 24 recognition — as Houston finished the season with a 23-8 (13-5) record.
Although it has been four years since Hinton played for the Cougars, the veteran guard still relies upon Sampson's teachings.
Under the culture Sampson built at Houston, Hinton competed every day at the highest level with the expectation of hard work. Sampson's stewardship has led to Hinton averaging 14.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals as part of the Rockets' G-League affiliate team, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
"A lot of stuff that he taught me, there are so many moments where I am like, 'Oh this is what he was talking about,'" Hinton said. "It's hard to see it when you are in it. But you start to see it when you leave his program. He has the right intentions. He isn't just some crazy old man yelling at you trying to get you to play hard.
"A lot of people are just catching on to the culture of Houston. I think it's a wonderful thing to see it on a more national stage than it was before."
Hinton has watched and rooted for Sampson's success over the previous four years and is proud of everything his college coach has accomplished since his departure.
In 2021, Sampson led the Cougars to their first Final Four appearance since 1984 while qualifying for the NCAA Tournament in six out of his 10-year tenure.
The NBA has also seen a recent increase in Sampson's players. The Detroit Pistons have a pair of Hinton's former teammates, Quentin Grimes and Marcus Sasser.
During the 2023 NBA Draft, the Indiana Pacers traded for Jarace Walker, who the Washington Wizards selected with the No. 8 overall pick. Sampson helped Walker become the first Houston prospect drafted within the top 10 since Hakeem Olajuwon (No. 1 overall) in 1984.
