Whenever the 2019-20 NBA season finally concludes after its lengthy COVID-19 hiatus and eventual restart, the Houston Rockets will have some negotiating to do if they want to retain head coach Mike D’Antoni.
Led by owner Tilman Fertitta and GM Daryl Morey, the Rockets attempted to work out a contract extension last summer with D’Antoni — who is currently in the final year of the contract he signed in July 2016.
The two sides couldn’t come to terms then, but Morey has extensively praised the 69-year-old coach on several occasions since, all while indicating a desire to keep the partnership going beyond this season.
In a Saturday interview with Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, Fertitta made it clear that it will be Morey’s decision to make. He said:
I think I have one of the NBA’s great coaches in Mike D’Antoni. And I think I have one of the best basketball ops groups, Daryl [Morey] and his whole team. Personally, I love Mike. But I’m going to leave it up to the general manager. I surely would like to have Mike back. If Daryl wants to have Mike back, I’m sure Mike is going to be back.
Fertitta said during training camp for the 2019-20 season that he regretted the public nature of last summer’s talks. Thus, the Rockets may try to keep future discussions with D’Antoni closer to the vest.
D’Antoni has won 213 games and lost 97 over four regular seasons with the Rockets, with his .687 winning percentage the best of any coach in team history. Though he turned 69 in May, D’Antoni said last summer that he wants to keep coaching for at least another three years, and recent comments from Morey suggest that the team believes he’s capable.
“Coach D’Antoni is one of the best all-time coaches, in my opinion,” Morey said in April 2020. “He’s one of the all-time great innovators and a great partner. I’d love for it to keep going. It takes two to tango, but we’re going to figure that out in the offseason.”
D’Antoni has a record of 23-16 (.590) in three playoff runs, making for the top playoff winning percentage in franchise history. The Rockets have won at least one playoff series in all of his completed seasons.
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