The Houston Rockets will interview Minnesota Timberwolves associate head coach David Vanterpool for their vacant head coaching position, as first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Now 47 years old, Vanterpool has worked as an assistant in the NBA since 2012. He was on the Portland bench from 2012 through 2019, where Damian Lillard credited Vanterpool as key to his development.
As a player, Vanterpool had an extended professional career as a guard from 1996 through 2007. He largely played internationally, though he did join the NBA’s Washington Wizards for 22 games in 2001.
Vanterpool left the Trail Blazers for Minnesota in the 2019 offseason, shortly after the Timberwolves hired Gersson Rosas as president of basketball operations. Rosas, of course, was previously the No. 2 executive in Houston after Rockets GM Daryl Morey — which could indicate that Vanterpool is well respected within Morey’s circle.
Minnesota Timberwolves associate HC David Vanterpool will interview for the Houston Rockets head coaching job, sources tell ESPN. Vanterpool spent seven seasons on Portland staff before becoming the top assistant with Minnesota a year ago.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 2, 2020
Vanterpool moved from Portland to Minnesota thanks to an upgrade in title (assistant to associate head coach) and a pay increase, according to The Athletic. In his first season with the Timberwolves, he was largely tasked with improving the team’s defense, which rose to No. 20 (by defensive rating) in the NBA. While that might not sound too impressive at first glance, they were No. 24 or worse in each of the prior five years.
After Vanterpool’s exit, the Blazers fell from 53-29 and No. 3 in the Western Conference in 2018-19 to 35-39 and No. 8, respectively, this season. Their defensive rating plunged from No. 16 to No. 27.
In addition to Vanterpool, Houston’s candidates are now believed to include Clippers assistants Ty Lue and Sam Cassell; former Brooklyn head coach Kenny Atkinson; Dallas assistant Stephen Silas; Denver assistant Wes Unseld Jr.; and former Houston head coach Jeff Van Gundy.
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"I told him, 'If you come here, this is the final place before you become a head coach.'"
Inside David Vanterpool's rise in coaching and his plan to retool the #Timberwolves' defense:https://t.co/73lpNgNmFZ
— The Athletic Minnesota (@TheAthleticMIN) January 10, 2020