Report: Celtics among teams pursuing Nets assistant coach Mike D’Antoni

Author Alex Barth

June 8th, 2021 10:40 PM

One of the hallmarks of Brad Stevens’ tenure as the Celtics’ head coach was his defensive intensity. Now that Stevens is set to making a coaching hire, could he end up going in a completely different direction?

According to

Per league sources, #Nets assistant coach Mike D’Antoni is receiving interest for the #Blazers, #Celtics and #Magic HC jobs. The Nets will grant interview requests for D’Antoni — following the playoffs.

D’Antoni has long been known as an offensively-focused coach, whose teams regularly rank among the best in the league in scoring, but struggle defensively. His last head coaching stint was with the Rockets from 2016-2020. In that time, Houston’s average offensive rank league-wide was fourth – compared to 16th defensively.

In total, D’Antoni has been an NBA head coach for 16 seasons. Between stops with the Nuggets, Suns, Knicks, Lakers, and Rockets he’s made the playoffs 10 times, with three Conference Finals apperances – all losses.

This is the first time D’Antoni has been linked to the Celtics, whose head coaching search officially began last week. In his report, Schultz added the Nets will grant teams request to interview with D’Antonio, but not until after the playoffs. Given the way Brooklyn has been playing, it could be a bit before the Celtics or any other team gets to speak with him, which could lead them to explore other options.

Here’s some other names to know as the search continues:

• Jay Larranaga

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  One of the Celtics’ longest-tenured assistant coaches, Larranaga has been with the franchise since 2012. He was interviewed by the team during their last coaching search since 2013, and has since reportedly turned down multiple college head coaching offers to stay in Boston.

• Jerome Allen

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  Jerome Allen joined the Celtics in 2015 after spending six years as the head coach at his alma mater, Penn. Tatum has been highly complimentary of Allen in the past, and that relationship could factor in. Allen played three seasons in the NBA in the late 90’s. 

• Kara Lawson

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  Kara Lawson’s tenure with the Celtics was brief - it lasted just over a calendar year - but she made an impact during her time in Boston. She was reportedly very popular with the Celtics’ players, who continued to support her after she left the team last summer to become the head coach of the Duke women's program. Could a quick turnaround back to Boston be in store?
• Sam Cassell

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  Among the external candidates for the job, Sam Cassell has been one of if not the most popular names early in the conversation. He’s been an NBA assistant coach since 2009, spending time with the Clippers and Wizards before joining the Sixers this season. His 15-year playing career ended with the 2008 Celtics, and he’d bring the knowledge of what it takes to win a championship in Boston (one of his three career titles).

• Kenny Atkinson

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  Our own Jimmy Stewart was one of the first to float Kenny Atkinson’s name in regards to the Celtics. Atkinson has been in NBA coaching since 2008, and served as the head coach of the Nets from 2016-2020. He’s currently an assistant coach with the Clippers.

• Becky Hammon

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  San Antonio’s Becky Hammon has been one of the hottest names in coaching for a few years now. She was hired by Gregg Popovich in 2014 and has served as his top assistant since. Brad Stevens - who will be making the hire in Boston - was asked about her potential future as a head coach earlier this year.
• Jason Kidd

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  Would the third time be the charm for Jason Kidd? The 10-time all-star point guard has had rocky stints running the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks. He’s been an assistant with the Lakers since 2019. Kidd was directly linked to the Celtics by Yahoo’s Chris Haynes. 

• Chauncey Billups

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  Chauncey Billups is relatively new to coaching - he’s currently finishing up the first year of his first coaching job with the Clippers. That being said he had a long, successful career as a player that included a Finals win and Finals MVP in 2004. The Herald’s Mark Murphy was one of many who pointed him out as a candidate.

• Lloyd Pierce

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  Along with Kidd, Lloyd Pierce was named by Haynes as a candidate. Pierce spent 10 years as an assistant coach in the NBA before getting his chance with the Atlanta Hawks in 2018. His young teams struggled, and he was fired part way through the 2021 season.
• Juwan Howard

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  Juwan Howard is likely the biggest longshot on this list, and has been mentioned more as an ideal candidate than a realistic one. In his first full season as the head coach at Michigan, the Wolverines won the Big 10 and made it to the Elite Eight. Before heading to Ann Arbor he spent six seasons as an assistant with the Miami Heat - where he won two titles - following an NBA career that lasted almost two decades.

Click here for 98.5 The Sports Hub’s complete coverage of the Celtics.

Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.

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Author Alex Barth

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Boston Celtics,Brad Stevens,celtics,Mike D'antoni,NBA