The Houston Rockets are making some major changes in their coaching staff ahead of the 2022-23 season. Stephen Silas will remain at the helm for Houston after another disappointing campaign in 2022-23, but his staff is now getting a major overhaul.
Mark Berman of Fox 26 reports that the Rockets are adding LeBron James' former coach with the Los Angeles Lakers, Lionel Hollins, as part of Silas' coaching staff. Hollins will be joined by a couple of fresh faces in Mike Batiste and Mahmoud Abdelfattah:
NBA source: The Rockets are adding Lionel Hollins, Mike Batiste and Mahmoud Abdelfattah to Stephen Silas’ staff.
NBA source: The Rockets are adding Lionel Hollins, Mike Batiste and Mahmoud Abdelfattah to Stephen Silas’ staff.
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) July 4, 2022
Silas last coached in the league as part of Frank Vogel's coaching staff in LA. Hollins was a key part of Vogel's team of coaches as they guided the Lakers to a championship in 2020. Vogel's LA side was a formidable force on the defensive end, and this is something that Hollins can bring to the table for the Rockets. The 68-year-old also has a ton of experience under his belt. He started off as an assistant coach in 1988 for the Phoenix Suns, and he's taken on head coaching stints with the Memphis Grizzlies and the Brooklyn Nets.
Batiste, on the other hand, is a former NBA player who has been an assistant around the league for quite some time now. For his part, Abdelfattah gets a promotion to the big league after leading the Rio Grand Valley Vipers, the Rockets' NBA G League affiliate, to a championship last season.
Hollins, Batiste, and Abdelfattah are replacing outgoing assistant coaches Jeff Hornaceck, Will Weaver, and DeSagana Diop.
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