Rockets' D'Antoni to coach Team Stephen at All-Star Game
Houston Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni and his staff will coach Team Stephen at this year's NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 18 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
As a result of the San Antonio Spurs losing to the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night, the 34-13 Rockets clinched the best winning percentage in the Western Conference (.723) for teams with eligible coaches ahead of the Feb. 4 deadline.
The 39-10 Golden State Warriors (.796) are currently ahead of Houston in the standings, but since Steve Kerr coached the West last year, he's ineligible this time around.
The midseason exhibition has changed this year to get rid of the standard East vs. West format, with the squads instead captained by the leading vote-getter from each conference (LeBron James and Stephen Curry). Once the remaining participants were decided, the two rosters were selected during a non-televised draft, with James and Curry making picks.
D'Antoni, the reigning Coach of the Year, is the second coach in franchise history to work the All-Star Game, joining Rudy Tomjanovich (1997).
The coach for Team LeBron has yet to be determined.