ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy is out of the running for the Houston Rockets' vacant head-coaching position, according to The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski. Van Gundy previously coached the Rockets from 2003 to 2007.
Sources: Jeff Van Gundy is no longer a candidate for the Rockets job. Though JVG had interest in reunion, two sides never sat down to talk.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) May 18, 2016
This fizzled out quickly. On Monday, CBS Sports' Ken Berger reported that Van Gundy could be gaining traction as Houston's top choice. On Tuesday, ESPN's Marc Stein and Calvin Watkins reported that general manager Daryl Morey supported Van Gundy, but owner Leslie Alexander "has yet to be fully sold on a reunion."
Van Gundy is finishing his ninth season with ESPN, and it looks like he will stay there for the time being. He reportedly interviewed for the Minnesota Timberwolves job that went to Tom Thibodeau, his former assistant with the New York Knicks and the Rockets. The Memphis Grizzlies reportedly wanted to go after Van Gundy two years ago, but there have not been rumors of them revisiting this idea now.
Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Mike D'Antoni is reportedly a serious candidate for Rockets, and the Houston Chronicle reported on Wednesday that D'Antoni is the frontrunner.
