Report: Houston Rockets looking to interview Phoenix Suns associate head coach Kevin Young
Phoenix Suns All-Star Devin Booker basically gave an endorsement for associate head coach Kevin Young before the Houston Rockets reportedly requested permission to talk with the Suns associate head coach.
“He can do stuff on the court and he’s a mastermind with the Xs and Os and game scouting and knowing teams,” Booker said earlier this season. “So having the balance of both has been a big boost for my career. He’s really helped and is someone you can go to, ask any type of question. He’s been around it for a long time. He knows the game.”
The Rockets are seeking permission to interview Young, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted Tuesday afternoon. Houston didn’t pick up the fourth-year option on Stephen Silas as he went 59-177 in his three seasons.
ESPN Sources: The Rockets are securing permission to interview Phoenix Suns associate HC Kevin Young for their head coaching job. Young spent eight years coaching in G League and has gained momentum as NBA head coaching candidate in recent years on staffs with Sixers and Suns.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 11, 2023
The youthful Rockets finished tied with San Antonio for the worst record in the West this season at 22-60, which was the second-worst record in the league behind 17-65 Detroit.
“On behalf of the Fertitta family and the entire Rockets organization, I would like to thank Stephen for his contributions to the team and the Houston community over the past three seasons,” Rockets general manager Rafael Stone said in a statement Monday. “I have great respect for Stephen both as a person and as a basketball mind. His character, leadership, and positivity have been invaluable during this stage of our growth.”
Silas, 49, had been a longtime NBA assistant before getting an opportunity as an NBA head coach in Houston. He is the son of Paul Silas, a longtime NBA head coach who passed away Dec. 10, 2022, at age 79.
“I feel proud,” Silas said to reporters after Houston’s last game April 9 at Washington the Rockets won, 114-109. “I wanted to be a head coach my whole life. I wanted to be like my dad. Proud of these guys, proud of their hard work, proud of their growth and maturity as they got through the season.”
The Rockets have received permission to interview Golden State associate head coach Kenny Atkinson, Wojnarowski also tweeted. Atkinson, 55, went 118-190 in four seasons as head coach in Brooklyn.
The Nets went to the playoffs in Atkinson’s third season in 2018-19. Atkinson had accepted Charlotte job going into the 2022-23 season, but he decided to remain an assistant at Golden State.
ESPN Sources: Houston has received permission to interview Golden State associate head coach Kenny Atkinson for franchise’s coaching job. Atkinson helped rebuild Nets into a playoff team and accepted Charlotte job before changing his mind and staying in Golden State a year ago.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 11, 2023
Young, 41, was in the running for the Utah Jazz head coach position before Will Hardy replaced Quin Snyder going into the 2022-23 season. He’s never been an NBA head coach, but Young three stints as a head coach in the G League with Utah Flash (2010-11), Iowa Energy (2011-13) and Delaware 87ers (2014-16).
His run with the 87ers led to working as an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers under Brett Brown from 2016-20. There he worked with Suns head coach Monty Williams for the 2018-19 season before Williams took the Suns head coaching position in May 2019.
Williams hired Young the following season as Willie Green was the lead assistant. Green left to take over as head coach in New Orleans after the 2020-21 season as the Suns reached the 2021 finals with him and Young on the staff.
Young was then elevated to associate head coach in Phoenix.
Suns announce hiring of new CEO
Josh Bartelstein was named Chief Executive Officer of the Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, the Suns announced Monday.
Bartelstein spent the last eight years with the Detroit Pistons with his latest position being their assistant general manager in basketball operations.
“Josh understands our culture and values and shares our strategic vision for the Suns and Mercury,” said new Suns and Mercury team owner, who is from the Detroit area, in a statement. “His proven leadership abilities and deep experience in both the business and basketball sides of an organization makes him uniquely positioned to transform the teams into the best basketball franchises on and off the court.”
Bartelstein will oversee business operations for the Suns and Mercury. A native of Highland Park, Illinois, Bartelstein played at Michigan and was part of the squad that reached the 2013 NCAA title game.
“The Suns and Mercury are world-class organizations with passionate fans and a strong commitment to the Phoenix community. I’m grateful to be joining at such an exciting and pivotal time for the teams, the arena and the city,” said Bartelstein in a statement.
“We will remain focused on creating a culture where our team members can thrive, elevating the fan experience and making a positive impact on the Valley. I look forward to working with the team to collectively build on this foundation and usher in the Suns’ and Mercury’s next chapter of growth and success.”
Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Report: Rockets looking to interview Suns lead assistant Kevin Young
