Former NBA head coach Jeff Hornacek is “very close” to joining the Rockets as an assistant coach on Stephen Silas‘ new staff, reports Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston (Twitter link). Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle first reported that the Rockets were in talks with Hornacek.
A former shooting guard who made an All-Star team and appeared in a pair of NBA Finals, Hornacek transitioned into coaching in 2011 when he was hired as an assistant by the Jazz. He subsequently coached the Suns from 2013-16 and the Knicks from 2016-18.
Hornacek led Phoenix to a 48-34 record in his first year as a head coach, but didn’t finish above .500 in a season after that. He has an overall record of 161-216 (.427) as a head coach.
Since Silas is a first-time head coach, there was an expectation that the Rockets would want to make sure he had an experienced staff around him. Feigen previously reported that Houston wanted to get at least two former head coaches on Silas’ staff, and it seems the club has achieved that goal — assuming Hornacek finalizes a deal with the Rockets, he’ll join John Lucas, who has decided to remain with the organization as an assistant.
The Rockets also aggressively pursued veteran coach Nate McMillan, but McMillan is reportedly on the verge of joining the Hawks.
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