Tag: James Borrego

Lakers are expected to interview James Borrego for head coaching job

The Lakers have reportedly added another name to their list of head coaching candidates.

It has been a week since Darvin Ham was fired by the Los Angeles Lakers after two seasons as their head coach. They will conduct a thorough search for their next head coach, and it could take a little while.

Even though Tyronn Lue, who may have been their top candidate, is unlikely to be available, and Mike Budenholzer was just hired by the Phoenix Suns, they have a few intriguing candidates.

Among them are Kenny Atkinson, the former Brooklyn Nets head coach, and David Adelman, an assistant with the Denver Nuggets and the son of longtime head coach Rick Adelman.

According to Shams Charania, Los Angeles is also expected to interview James Borrego, who is the New Orleans Pelicans’ associate head coach.

Borrego started his NBA coaching career as a member of Gregg Popovich’s staff on the San Antonio Spurs. While there, he won two NBA championships in the mid-2000s.

He was also the lead assistant on the Orlando Magic for three seasons and was their interim head coach late in the 2014-15 campaign after Jacque Vaughn was fired. Borrego then spent four seasons as the Charlotte Hornets’ head coach until he was fired in 2022.

Nets potential head-coaching candidates revealed

Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports recently revealed some of the potential candidates for the Brooklyn Nets’ permanent head-coaching position.

The Brooklyn Nets are nearing the end of their 2023-24 season and as a result, they will have to start thinking about how to improve the team this upcoming offseason. One of those important matters will be addressing who will be the head coach next season to hopefully lead Brooklyn back to the postseason.

Currently, the Nets are led by interim head coach Kevin Ollie, someone that has done a solid job leading this Brooklyn franchise following the firing of its head coach, Jacque Vaughn, during the All-Star break. However, it has been noted plenty of times throughout this season that the Nets’ search for a head coach will be far-ranging given how important that role is.

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports, Brooklyn is likely to consider experienced coaches like Mike Budenholzer and James Borrego, two people who have ties to the San Antonio Spurs just like Nets general manager Sean Marks did. Budenholzer was an assistant coach for the Spurs beginning with the 1996-97 season until he landed his first head-coaching job with the Atlanta Hawks starting with the 2013-14 season.

Budenholzer coached in Atlanta for five seasons before becoming the head coach for the Milwaukee Bucks beginning with the 2018-19 season, a tenure that saw him win the NBA championship in the 2020-21 season.

Borrego became the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets starting with the 2018-19 season after spending the prior eight seasons mostly as an assistant coach with the New Orleans Hornets, Orlando Magic (30 games as the interim head coach), and the Spurs. Borrego spent four seasons as the head coach for the Hornets before being relieved of his duties after the conclusion of the 2021-22 campaign.

Fischer also said that the Nets will “consider” some of the same newer candidates to the coaching pool that the Charlotte Hornets and the Washington Wizards will be looking into as well.

Per Fischer, some of those candidates are Denver Nuggets assistant David Adelman, Sacramento Kings assistant Jordi Fernandez, Boston Celtics assistant Charles Lee, and Phoenix Suns assistant Kevin Young.

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James Borrego spurns Brooklyn Nets to join the Pelicans’ coaching staff

The Brooklyn Nets will have to look somewhere else for an assistant coach after James Borrego joined the Pelicans as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

After reports earlier in the offseason that the Brooklyn Nets were interested in adding James Borrego to Jacque Vaughn’s coaching staff, it looks like Brooklyn will have to pivot. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Borrego has agreed to become associate head coach for the New Orleans Pelicans alongside head coach Willie Green.

NetsDaily.com reported in early May that one source told them that the Nets were fully invested in bringing Borrego onboard given his experience among the coaching ranks. Wojnarowski added that Borrego turned down other opportunities, possibly with Brooklyn, to be the top assistant on those staffs,

While Borrego is a missed opportunity for the Nets, Brooklyn has added Kevin Ollie, Ronnie Burrell, and Jay Hernandez to join incumbents Adam Caporn, Ryan Forehan-Kelly, and Trevor Hendry. It looks like Vaughn is filling out his coaching staff the way that he sees fit and barring any future updates, this should be the coaching staff heading into the 2023-24 season.

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Report: Ime Udoka, Rockets eyeing James Borrego as lead assistant

“James Borrego is another name to watch, potentially as a lead assistant,” KPRC’s @AriA1exander reports regarding Ime Udoka and his new #Rockets coaching staff.

New Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka is reportedly set to hire Brooklyn’s Royal Ivey in the near future, along with three assistants from his former staff in Boston.

The link between Udoka and one of those Celtics assistants, Ben Sullivan, was first reported in early May by Ari Alexander of KPRC, Houston’s NBC affiliate.

Now, Alexander is reporting that an even bigger name — James Borrego, former head coach of the Charlotte Hornets — could be in play as Udoka attempts to fill his bench.

Borrego interviewed with Houston for the head coaching vacancy in April before the Rockets decided on Udoka. Since then, Borrego has understandably passed on potential assistant jobs to pursue other lead jobs. But with those being filled as the weeks progress, he could shift his focus to a lesser role.

Alexander writes:

Borrego is another name to watch, potentially as a lead assistant, a league source told KPRC 2. Borrego has interest from Houston, Brooklyn, New Orleans and Dallas, per a league source.

Borrego has four seasons of experience as a head coach, leading the Hornets from 2018-2022. He also led the Magic for 30 games as an interim coach in 2014-15. Borrego is well respected throughout the league and is also known for his tenure under Gregg Popovich with the Spurs.

Borrego, known for his offensive acumen, could be an interesting pairing with the defensive minded Udoka. As Alexander stated, the two already have a working relationship from multiple years in San Antonio on the staff of one of the best coaches in NBA history.

It isn’t yet clear what Borrego’s preference is regarding those four franchises. The relationship he has with each coach and financial offers from each team’s ownership group could play a large role.

Stay tuned!

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Report: Rockets presumed to have interest in James Borrego as assistant coach

The Mavericks, Pelicans, Nets, and #Rockets are all believed to have interest in hiring James Borrego as an assistant coach, per veteran NBA scribe Marc Stein.

Though the job ultimately went to Ime Udoka, former Hornets head coach James Borrego (2018-22) made a strong impression on the Houston Rockets in their recent search for the lead role.

Borrego, who is known for his offensive acumen, could be an interesting pairing with the defensive minded Udoka. Moreover, the two already have a working relationship from their days on the staff of legendary head coach Gregg Popovich with the San Antonio Spurs.

So, could Charlotte’s recent head coach be part of the staff of assistants for Udoka with the Rockets? Per veteran NBA scribe Marc Stein, Houston is believed to have interest. He reports:

I reported Sunday about Dallas’ interest in hiring James Borrego to join Jason Kidd’s staff, but sources say he was already being pursued by the New Orleans Pelicans before the Mavericks had an opening … with other teams (presumed to be Houston and Brooklyn) also said to be circling.

Stein didn’t elaborate on what Borrego’s preference would be regarding those four franchises. The working relationship he has with each coach and financial offers from each team’s ownership group could play a large role.

Other potential candidates for Udoka’s staff in Houston are believed to include Boston’s Ben Sullivan and internal candidates John Lucas and Mahmoud Abdelfattah. Both coached on the staff of former Rockets head coach Stephen Silas.

There is no set timetable for Udoka to name his full staff for the 2023-24 season. However, an assistant typically leads Houston’s squad at the NBA Summer League, and practices for those begin shortly after the NBA’s draft night. This year, the draft is on June 22, so expect at least some members of Udoka’s staff to be known by then.

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Brooklyn Nets ‘100%’ interested in hiring James Borrego as assistant coach

The Brooklyn Nets are interested in hiring James Borrego as an assistant coach, according to NetsDaily.

The Brooklyn Nets are completely interested in hiring former Charlotte Hornets head coach James Borrego to Jacque Vaughn’s coaching staff, according to NetsDaily. According to NBA.com, the current coaching staff for the Nets outside of Vaughn are: Royal Ivey, Ryan Forehan-Kelly, Adam Caporn, and Trevor Hendry.

Brooklyn recently let go of Tiago Splitter, Brian Keefe, and Igor Kokoskov as Vaughn has been empowered by the organization to build his coaching staff as he sees fit. NetsDaily says that a league source said the Nets are fully interested in bringing Borrego in given the amount of experience he’s had as a head coach of the Hornets and the Orlando Magic.

Borrego started his coaching career with the 2010-11 season as an assistant coach for the New Orleans Hornets. He was also an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs and gained his respect around the league due to being higher-regarded by Popovich. Borrego has a career head-coaching record of 148-183 (44.7%) over the span of five seasons.

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Interviews: NBA coaches who met with Rockets or plan to meet during 2023 search

In the aftermath of Ime Udoka meeting with the #Rockets on Wednesday, here’s an updated look at the team’s list and schedule of head coaching interviews.

As of Thursday, April 20, the coaching search for the Rockets is now approaching the end of its second week. In-person interviews with a number of candidates have already taken place in Houston.

After finishing with the NBA’s worst or second-worst record for three straight years, Houston (22-60) recently declined to pick up the team option on the contract of former head coach Stephen Silas.

With that, the Rockets entered into a search for his replacement. As usual, led by general manager Rafael Stone, they’re casting a wide net and making plenty of contacts, with the interview list including both former head coaches and current assistants around the league.

However, in the wake of Silas not working out after being a first-time hire in 2020, it’s believed that head coaching experience is more of a priority in 2023. Thus, former coaches such as Frank Vogel, James Borrego, and Ime Udoka are among the list of confirmed interviews.

Here’s a look at where the Rockets appear to be at in their search, as of Thursday afternoon. This list does not yet include Toronto’s Nick Nurse, since he remains under contract with the Raptors as head coach and will not interview unless a parting of ways is announced.

Per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, interviews with Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson (formerly head coach of the Nets) and 76ers assistant Sam Cassell are planned but not yet scheduled, as a result of their teams playing in the 2023 NBA playoffs.

Some of these interviewees may also factor into Houston’s potential staff of assistants beneath its new head coach. The Rockets plan to fill the lead role first, and then that person will be able to make decisions regarding who will fill out the surrounding coaching staff.

Rockets coaching search updates: James Borrego, Ime Udoka interview

The #Rockets are now in week two of their coaching search to replace Stephen Silas, with former NBA head coaches Ime Udoka and James Borrego among the latest interviewees.

The Houston Rockets appear ready to move to the next phase in their franchise rebuild.

The team’s ongoing head coaching search to replace Stephen Silas is in its second week. The team has interviewed a handful of NBA assistants as part of a diverse and widespread search. However, it’s believed proven experience in the lead role will be a key criteria in their final choice. That could explain why former Pacers, Magic, and Lakers head coach Frank Vogel appears to be an early front-runner.

While Vogel was the first established name to interview, he will be far from the last. On Monday, former Hornets head coach James Borrego visited Houston to meet with general manager Rafael Stone and the Rockets. On Wednesday, former Celtics coach Ime Udoka will do the same.

Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson — previously Brooklyn’s head coach — and current Toronto head coach Nick Nurse could factor into Houston’s search, as well. However, scheduling an interview with both of those men is more complicated. Nurse would have to formally part ways with the Raptors  first, and Atkinson’s Warriors are in the middle of a first-round playoff series versus Sacramento.

As of Tuesday evening, April 18, here’s a look at the latest reports involving the Rockets and their ongoing search for a head coach.

Rockets coaching search tracker: Frank Vogel interviews, Sam Cassell up next

Here’s our roundup of #Rockets coaching search news, headlined by an official interview of former Lakers coach Frank Vogel and a looming interview of Sam Cassell.

As their rebuild continues, the Houston Rockets are ready to move to the next phase, according to general manager Rafael Stone. And that phase will not include former head coach Stephen Silas.

As soon as the 2022-23 season ended for the Rockets (22-60) this week, Silas had the team option on his coaching contract declined for the 2023-24 campaign. That put Houston into the coaching market. Former Pacers, Magic and Lakers head coach Frank Vogel; former Celtics coach Ime Udoka; former Nets coach Kenny Atkinson; former Thunder and Wizards coach Scott Brooks; and current Raptors coach Nick Nurse are among the initial list of prospective candidates.

The Rockets are expected to put a premium on experience in this search, with a proven name potentially able to help their market appeal in a 2023 offseason when they have approximately $60 million in salary cap room — likely the most of any NBA team.

However, as Stone acknowledged in Monday’s press conference, the Rockets will likely interview candidates without prior head coaching experience as well. Houston’s third-year general manager expects the job to be quite attractive.

The team will not issue updates during its search, but tidbits from knowledgeable sources are likely to emerge. As of Thursday, here’s what we’ve learned about the process and the candidates involved, which could soon include Nurse, now that Toronto is eliminated from the Eastern Conference play-in tournament.

Reports: Rockets targeting Ime Udoka, Kenny Atkinson, Frank Vogel, Nick Nurse as coach

With a premium placed on proven coaching experience, Ime Udoka, Kenny Atkinson, Frank Vogel, and Nick Nurse are among the top candidates to replace Stephen Silas. #Rockets

Shortly after the Houston Rockets (22-60) won Sunday’s 2022-23 season finale at Washington, one of the NBA’s worst-kept secrets became public knowledge: Stephen Silas is out as head coach.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania and ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski were among numerous national reporters to break the news.

Silas, who finished his Houston tenure with a 59-177 record (.250) and one of the league’s bottom-three records in each of his three seasons, will not have his team option picked up for the 2023-24 season. While the Rockets may have moved on from Silas, regardless of future financial obligations, the fact they were able to do so while not paying two coaches next season made it convenient timing.

“The Rockets believe a coaching change is necessary for the next stage in their multi-step process toward sustainable success, and are prioritizing a more established coach as the next hire,” Charania and colleague Kelly Iko wrote in The Athletic.

While Houston’s lowly records under Silas are largely a result of the franchise’s transition to extreme youth and a rebuilding emphasis following James Harden’s forced departure in January 2021, the reality is that as a first-time hire for the lead job, Silas has yet to prove himself a winning head coach in the NBA.

That made sense for the Rockets and general manager Rafael Stone when Silas was hired in October 2020, since at that time, Houston had a veteran roster led by two former MVPs in Harden and Russell Westbrook. They also had no salary cap room to use externally, so the primary focus was on maximizing internal resources.

But in 2023, with minimal proven talent and approximately $60 million in salary cap space this offseason, having an established coach could bolster Houston’s appeal on the market.

That’s likely why, per Wojnarowski, leading candidates for the job include Toronto’s Nick Nurse (should he decide to leave the Raptors) and Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson, along with former Boston coach Ime Udoka and Frank Vogel of the Lakers. Each of those men has advanced to the NBA Finals within the past four years and has multiple years of NBA head coaching experience.

Scott Brooks, currently a lead assistant in Portland after a long run in Oklahoma City that included a trip to the 2012 NBA Finals (alongside potential Rockets free agency target James Harden), is also a candidate in Houston, per Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated. Ex-Hornets coach James Borrego and Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin are among further possibilities, per Charania and Iko.

Here’s a look at what we know of Houston’s impending coaching search so far, along with early reaction to the news.