The Houston Rockets are turning toward a familiar name in their search for a head coach.
According to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, the Rockets have obtained permission from the Philadelphia 76ers to interview assistant coach Sam Cassell.
Cassell was a first-round pick for the Rockets out of Florida State in 1993 and played on the franchise’s back-to-back NBA championship teams in 1993-94 and 1994-95.
Sixers give Rockets permission to interview Sam Cassell https://t.co/hclYYXX9gn via @houstonchron
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) April 13, 2023
Cassell won another NBA championship as a player with the Boston Celtics in 2008, and after his playing career ended, he jumped immediately into the coaching ranks, becoming an assistant coach with the Washington Wizards.
After five seasons in D.C., Cassell moved on to the Los Angeles Clippers. He stayed in LA until 2020 when he moved with Doc Rivers to Philadelphia.
The Sixers are set to take on the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the NBA playoffs starting on Saturday. Cassell is one of three reported interviewees for Houston, along with Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin and Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson.