Reggie Miller backs Sam Cassell, Becky Hammon for Rockets coach

“Becky Hammon has learned the Spurs way, which is a culture that is totally different from what the Rockets are,” Miller said.

Basketball Hall of Famer and current NBA on TNT analyst Reggie Miller believes Los Angeles Clippers assistant Sam Cassell and San Antonio Spurs assistant Becky Hammon should each be highly considered for the vacant head coaching position with the Houston Rockets.

Hammon, 43, and Cassell, 50, each have several years of experience working for two of the NBA’s most respected head coaches in Gregg Popovich and Doc Rivers. Both have coached deep into the playoffs.

Miller addressed the Houston situation on a recent media conference call. In comments transcribed by David Barron of the Houston Chronicle:

Sam Cassell won championships [as a player] with the Rockets. He’s familiar with the organization and with the fan base. He understands veteran players and systems and, having been in the Western Conference, he knows their personnel. That’s a guy the Rockets fan base can rally around.

Hammon is a “why not push the boundaries” option, Miller said.

It’s outside the box, which is what the Houston Rockets are. They went to small ball. They’re used to being on the cusp of changing things up.

Becky Hammon has learned the Spurs way, which is a culture that is totally different from what the Rockets are. Maybe you need a culture change, and what better person if you want to be on the outside and break the gender barrier and change things totally?

Why not push the boundaries. You pushed the boundaries when you went 6-foot-7 and below and brought in Harden and Westbrook and played iso ball. Why not push it more and hire Becky Hammon? I think she would be a fabulous coach.

Per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, mutual interest has been shown between the Rockets and Cassell, who also interviewed with Houston during the team’s 2011 and 2016 searches for a head coach.

Hammon hasn’t yet been reported as a Houston candidate, though owner Tilman Fertitta was asked about her during a recent CNBC interview and didn’t dismiss the possibility.

In 2016, the Rockets did show some interest in the Popovich coaching tree. Prior to hiring Mike D’Antoni, GM Daryl Morey interviewed a pair of then-Spurs assistants in Ettore Messina and James Borrego.

As of Saturday, there had yet to be any reports of a formal interview taking place between the Rockets and potential 2020 candidates.

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