The Rockets are adding Will Weaver to the staff of assistants for new head coach Stephen Silas, per Marc Stein of The New York Times.
Weaver, who most recently coached the Sydney Kings in Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL), was a finalist for the lead job in Oklahoma City (which ultimately went to Mark Daigneault). Shortly after the Thunder made their hire, Weaver committed to Houston.
Weaver’s Kings registered the NBL’s best overall record last season, along with the league’s top defensive rating.
Weaver coached Jae’Sean Tate in Sydney, and the Rockets are believed to have “serious interest” in signing Tate as a free agent this offseason. The presence of his former head coach probably can’t hurt those chances.
Here’s how ESPN’s Olgun Uluc describes Weaver’s unique bio:
Weaver was strongly considered for the New Orleans Pelicans’ head-coaching vacancy before Stan Van Gundy signed a four-year deal to lead the team.
Weaver, 36, was the runner-up for the National Basketball League’s Coach of the Year award after leading the Kings to a league-best 20-8 record. The Kings would end up withdrawing from the 2020 Grand Final series against the Perth Wildcats in March amid concerns about COVID-19.