Rockets' New Head Coach Should Retain Mahmoud Abdelfattah As An Assistant

Assistant coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah should be a holdover option for the Houston Rockets' next head coach.

HOUSTON — When the Houston Rockets defeated the Detroit Pistons on March 31, Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. had arguably their best game together as teammates. They scored a combined 65 points to lift the Rockets to a 121-115 victory inside the Toyota Center.  

Former coach Stephen Silas said Green and Porter played well off each other. But amid praising his backcourt, Silas credited assistant coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah for inaugurating an offensive scheme that led to Green's and Porter's success.

Silas is no longer the head coach in Houston. But whoever the Rockets hire to take the helm as Silas' replacement should consider keeping Abdelfattah to help with the ongoing development of Houston's young corps.

"They were both pretty dynamic — it was fun to watch those two play," Silas said. "Mahmoud has been telling me to install the pick-and-roll for a month, and I finally did it."

Abdelfattah joined Silas' coaching staff last June following the departure of Jeff Hornacek and Will Weaver in May.

He has been a part of the Rockets system since 2018 after joining the Rio Grande Valley Vipers as an assistant coach. And his background in player development has made him beneficial to the Rockets' young corps.

#Rockets guard Daishen Nix spoke on his confidence being at an all-time high & assistant coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah has helped in a huge way.

"I've been getting the shots. But now, I'm making my shots, which has boosted my confidence." — Nix

Read: https://t.co/8GzNVkMBca pic.twitter.com/Jxk2ymkdUh

— Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) March 2, 2023

Abdelfattah laid the foundation for Porter and K.J. Martin during the G League Bubble in 2021. And the following year, Abdelfattah's coaching led to Daishen Nix becoming a rotational player within Silas' rotation during the 2022-23 campaign.  

"Mahmoud has helped me a lot," Martin exclusively told Inside the Rockets. "In my first year, I was in the G league Bubble, and we had a lot of conversations. Whether I am upset about a game we did not win or just to ask a general question, he has helped me a lot, and I am glad to have him around."

Nix added: "He is a great coach. Everything about coach is cool. He is very down-to-earth and communicates with his players very well. Even outside of coaching, I view him as a friend."

General manager Rafael Stone revealed on Monday that every assistant coach is still under contract with the Rockets. Stone says he will "encourage" the next head coach to look at Silas' previous staff for potential holdovers.

Stone said the Rockets' decision to part ways with Silas was due to the team needing a new voice. But for Abdelfattah, it may be in the Rockets' best interest for his voice to remain in Houston.

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