Report: Rockets seriously considering Mike D’Antoni for head coach

The Rockets are considering 76ers associate head coach Mike D’Antoni an “increasingly serious candidate” for their open head coaching position.

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The Houston Rockets are considering Philadelphia 76ers associate head coach Mike D’Antoni an “increasingly serious candidate” for their open head coaching position, league sources told ESPN’s Marc Stein and Calvin Watkins.

D’Antoni earned a meeting with team owner Leslie Alexander after an impressive first interview, ESPN reports. The Rockets met with D’Antoni and former Pacers coach Frank Vogel after Houston’s interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff withdrew from consideration for the position earlier this month.

D’Antoni has previously served as head coach for the Nuggets, Suns, Knicks and Lakers.

• Report: Kenny Smith will not be Rockets coach

The Rockets have interviewed an extensive list of candidates to replace Bickerstaff and fired coach Kevin McHale, including former Cavaliers coach David Blatt, former Suns coach Jeff Hornacek, Clippers assistant Sam Cassell, Hornets assistant Stephen Silas, Rockets assistant Chris Finch, TNT analyst Kenny Smith and Spurs assistant Ettore Messina.