NBA Update: Kevin McHale lands Houston Rockets head coaching job
On Tuesday night, Kevin McHale revealed that he has agreed to become the head coach of the Houston Rockets. McHale was a favourite for the job and rumours had been circulating that he had given the Rockets management a go ahead.
However, the man himself had denied that any agreement had taken place until now.
McHale is a basketball Hall of Famer. He had a tremendously successful playing career with the Boston Celtics, where he won three NBA World Championships. McHale played alongside legends like as Larry Bird and Robert Parish in
his heyday and was a part of the famed original “Big Three” of Boston.
McHale has been a head coach before and is also a former NBA General Manager. Kevin was hired by hometown franchise Minnesota Timberwolves for the first time as head coach back in 2005, when they fired their long time coach Flip
Saunders midway through the season. However after serving on the sidelines for the remainder of the season, Kevin was not hired on a permanent basis.
His second stint also came with the Timberwolves, again for half a season. This time, Minnesota approached him to serve as interim after firing Randy Wittman. Kevin accepted and coached the team for around 4 months, but the Timberwolves
failed to offer him a permanent job the next season.
He has since worked as an analyst for a TV channel and is said to have jumped on the chance when the offer came from Houston. Speaking to reporters Kevin said he didn’t want to announce his decision until the agreement was done
and dusted, thus the long wait.
"It would have been hard for [Martin] to [confirm], since I didn't even know until last night," McHale said.
"Doing the TV has been fantastic; "Kevin added."But this was a chance. It came up, I talked to them. I was a little uncertain whether I was going to jump in with both feet -- I wanted it to be the right situation -- but after spending
time with them, I felt this is a good situation to get involved in."
There are some quarters who have criticized the agreement, not in terms of Kevin not being a good enough coach, but in terms of the Houston Rockets not having a good enough team. The most vocal among them is basketball legend and
current TV analyst Charles Barkley. Barkley has repeatedly told Kevin McHale to hold out for a better job, as he believes Houston do not have a team, good enough for McHale to coach.
Kevin said he appreciated Barkley’s honesty and the fact that the latter is looking out for him. However he said that he has made his mind up about going to Houston, "That's the great thing about Chuck, he always tells you what
he thinks," McHale said. "I guess, in the end, it's a very personal decision. There are only 30 coaching jobs in the league.”
McHale will be given a three year contract, with Houston Rockets holding the option on the fourth year.
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