Just last week, it was reported that ESPN broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy was considered a leading candidate to become the Houston Rockets‘ next head coach.
Now, he's apparently out of the running and never even ended up meeting with the team, according to The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Van Gundy served as the Rockets' head coach from 2003-2007, but has not gotten back on the sidelines since his firing, spending his time as an analyst on ESPN's lead NBA broadcasting team.
With the news that he's no longer in the running, the Houston head coaching search is beginning to get some clarity. Earlier on Wednesday, it was reported that the team conducted a second interview with Mike D'Antoni. Van Gundy had been the only other name mentioned as a frontrunner so far, which leaves D'Antoni as the presumptive favorite to land the job.
It has also been reported that TNT analyst Kenny Smith and Houston's interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff are also not in the running any longer.
There are still a number of names the Rockets have shown interest in that haven't been ruled out, including Ettore Messina, Frank Vogel, Jeff Hornacek, Sam Cassell and David Blatt.
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