Mike D'Antoni on Rockets Future After Loss to Lakers: 'We'll See What Happens'

Head coach Mike D'Antoni unleashed his small-ball style in earnest this year with the Houston Rockets. He'll find out this offseason if he gets to continue with it. 

Following the Los Angeles Lakers' Western Conference Semifinals series win over Houston on Saturday, D'Antoni's status is uncertain, as his contract has expired. 

"We'll see what happens, but I couldn't ask for a better situation in the last four years," D'Antoni told reporters after losing Game 5 119-96.

According to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, D'Antoni "definitely" wants to coach next year, whether in Houston or elsewhere. 

Both James Harden and Russell Westbrook praised D'Antoni, with Harden saying "of course" he wants the coach to return. Westbrook spoke to the coach's character.

"I don't get into contracts," he said. "But one thing I know about Mike is he's a hell of a person."

D'Antoni compiled a 217-101 record over four years in Houston while leading his team to at least the second round of the playoffs each campaign. He won Coach of the Year in 2016-17, oversaw Eric Gordon's Sixth Man of the Year award that same season and coached Harden to an MVP one year later.

The 2019-20 season saw D'Antoni fully embrace small ball after the team traded forward Clint Capela, as the coach used 6'5" P.J. Tucker in the paint. 

With other teams beginning to play smaller as well, there's plenty of reason for Houston to renew D'Antoni's contract. 

Harden feels the team is "a piece away." 

"It's very, very frustrating," Harden said after Saturday's loss. "Especially the amount of work that individually I put in. I'm going to keep chipping away. Keep going and keep going until I can't go anymore. We're a piece away. We've just got to keep trying to figure it out and keep growing." 

Whether or not D'Antoni remains one of those pieces is one of the league's biggest questions heading into the offseason.