Kenny Smith: Latest News, Rumors and Speculation on Former Rockets Star
Current TNT analyst Kenny Smith has been linked to the Houston Rockets' vacant head coaching position, but it appears he will not be on the bench next season.
Continue for updates.
Smith Reportedly Out of the Running for Rockets Job
Monday, May 16
Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reported Smith is no longer a candidate for the Houston job, citing a "person with knowledge of the decision." On May 9, Mark Berman of Fox 26 and Feigen reported Smith would interview for the opening.
Smith's Emergence Part of Expansive Search
Smith, 51, does not have any coaching experience. He has been with TNT since 1998, serving as a staple of the network's Inside the NBA program. In addition to his NBA duties, Smith also starred in a 2015 reality show on TBS about his family.
When asked by co-host Charles Barkley about an interest in coaching on May 5, Smith declined to give a definitive answer.
"I've always said anything basketball is me," Smith said, per ESPN.com's Marc Stein. "And this is basketball. I enjoy being here. This is me.
"Well, I told you if it's basketball, it's me. Under the right circumstances. I've been here 17 years, and I've enjoyed every minute of it," Smith said when pressed again.
Smith, of course, enjoyed his greatest run of success as a Rocket. He was the team's starting point guard for six seasons and won back-to-back NBA championships in 1993-94 and 1994-95.
The Rockets are expected to cast a wide net for their coaching search as they look to rebound from a disappointing 2015-16 campaign. Smith, David Blatt and Jeff Hornacek are just part of a deep coaching pool that includes Frank Vogel, Jeff Van Gundy, Mike D'Antoni and Chris Finch, per Feigen.
Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter.
Editor's Note: Turner Sports is Bleacher Report's parent company.
