Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni won’t return next season, team confirms

HOUSTON – Houston Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni will not return next season, owner Tilman Fertitta confirmed Sunday.

“I would like to thank Mike D’Antoni and his wife, Laurel, for their incredible contributions to the Houston Rockets organization and the Houston community. Mike is a true professional and an amazing basketball mind. He is a winner, and we have been blessed to have had such an outstanding coach and leader to work with the past four seasons. We wish Mike and Laurel nothing but success and happiness in their next chapter.”

ESPN was the first to report D’Antoni was informing the team that he would not be coming back.

D’Antoni hinted that his time with the Rockets may be coming to an end during his post-game news conference after the team was booted from the playoffs Saturday by the Los Angeles Lakers.

D’Antoni was playing the current season without a contract extension.

He took over as Houston’s head coach in 2016.

Fans react to D’Antoni’s announcement