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Houston Rockets: 5 Best Candidates For Head Coaching Job

By Gerald Bourguet

April 18, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; ESPN broadcaster Mark Jackson (left), broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy (center), and broadcaster Mike Breen (right) talk before game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Golden State Warriors and the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
April 18, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; ESPN broadcaster Mark Jackson (left), broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy (center), and broadcaster Mike Breen (right) talk before game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Golden State Warriors and the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 11, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; ESPN broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy during game four of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Jeff Van Gundy

Jeff Van Gundy is a former Rockets and New York Knicks head coach whose name was at the top of this list until Thursday. Though he hasn’t coached since the 2006-07 season, trading his clipboard for a headset as an NBA commentator ever since, JVG has a sterling track record and ties to the Rockets organization.

In 11 NBA seasons as a head coach, Van Gundy’s teams never posted a losing record. His teams made the playoffs in all but one season, his 1998-99 Knicks went to the NBA Finals before being toppled by the San Antonio Spurs, and his .575 win percentage ranks 25th all-time among coaches who have coached in at least 400 games.

Van Gundy has long been mentioned as Houston’s prime target, and as a regular attendee at the MIT Sports Sloan Analytics Conference, it’s safe to say he’s well aware of the current trends of the game and how it’s changed since he last coached.

We’ve already seen broadcasters like Mark Jackson and Steve Kerr find success as NBA head coaches without any experience coming from the booth, so it’s safe to say a guy who’s done it before like JVG would have plenty to bring to the table in Houston. For a team that needs a sense of unity and an improved defense, Van Gundy would instill some toughness and togetherness.

Next: No. 1

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