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Report: John Lucas candidate for Rockets' HC job

Rocky Widner / National Basketball Association / Getty

The Houston Rockets are considering the candidacy of current player development coach John Lucas for their vacant head coaching position, sources told The New York Times' Marc Stein.

The soon-to-be 67-year-old has worked for the Rockets since 2016 under Mike D'Antoni, who announced last month that he would not return to Houston for a fifth season as head coach.

Lucas also has six years of previous NBA head coaching experience, patrolling the sidelines for the San Antonio Spurs (1992-94), Philadelphia 76ers (1994-96), and Cleveland Cavaliers (2001-03) for an overall record of 173-258 (.401).

As a player, Lucas had three separate stints with the Rockets for a total of 325 games over five seasons (1976-78, 1984-86, and 1989-90). He averaged 11.6 points, 7.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per game with Houston.

Top Minnesota Timberwolves assistant David Vanterpool and Los Angeles Clippers assistant Tyronn Lue have also been linked to the Rockets' coaching job.

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