Report: Rockets receive permission to interview Warriors' Atkinson

The Houston Rockets received permission to interview Golden State Warriors associate head coach Kenny Atkinson for their vacancy at head coach, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Atkinson has been a member of Steve Kerr's staff for the past two seasons. He accepted the Charlotte Hornets' head coaching job last year but later opted to return to Golden State.

Atkinson previously spent four seasons as the Brooklyn Nets' bench boss, rebuilding the club into a playoff team. He guided the Nets to a 118-190 mark, including a 42-win campaign in 2018-19.

The Rockets are scheduling interviews with Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin, ex-Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka, former Los Angeles Lakers bench boss Frank Vogel, and ex-Hornets head coach James Borrego, Stadium's Shams Charania reports.

Current Raptors head coach Nick Nurse is expected to be one of Houston's top targets if he becomes available, adds Charania.

Nurse has a year remaining on his contract. The 55-year-old guided Toronto to its first and only NBA title in 2019. He also spent a pair of seasons at the helm of the Rockets' G League affiliate, winning what was then the D-League crown in 2013.

Houston didn't pick up the four-year option on Stephen Silas' contract. Silas went 58-178 during his stint with the Rockets, including a pair of last-place finishes.