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Ime Udoka badly wanted Kevin Durant in Houston
Initially, Rafael Stone and the Rockets organization made public and private commitments to their developing young core. They emphasized that trading away these promising players for a superstar was not part of their strategy. However, circumstances shifted in recent weeks, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst. "I believe he wanted to have his young team grow, but something happened the last few weeks," said Brian Windhorst. "Ime Udoka, who had him in his Brooklyn—Royal Ivey is on his staff—he was his teammate at Texas. He wanted him. He went to ownership and front office and said 'Can we can get Kevin Durant? Get him.'"
Multiple teams, including San Antonio, have pursued Rockets assistant coach Royal Ivey this offseason, but Ivey is expected to stay in Houston. Ivey, of course, did interview for the Suns' head coaching vacancy that went to Ott and is a close friend of Durant's.
Right now, I expect the Rockets to return all their assistant coaches. Royal Ivey has been on short lists for some head coaching positions and is receiving the most interest from other teams, so look for that to be a continuing storyline. The rest of Ime Udoka’s assistants are also highly regarded around the league and Houston’s front office is fielding inquiries about them, but the Rockets’ upward trajectory lends itself to staff stability.
Marc Stein: There was a thought that if Royal Ivey advances in this search, it would suggest—and I think we underline suggest—that maybe the Suns are more open to keeping Kevin Durant than has been anticipated. The fact that Royal Ivey did not advance in this coaching search—you know, that's only going to embolden those who believe that the Suns will be exploring every conceivable Kevin Durant trade option that they have this offseason.”
Do we know if they did get an initial interview, or any reasons as to why they were not selected to move on to the second round? Marc Stein: I'm pretty sure Royal Ivey did. I'm less sure, frankly, on Sam Cassell. I would have to do some more reporting there and find out. But I can't say that Sam's name—I can't say that I heard it in the early stages of this search. And I'm with you in terms of surprise. I mean, Sam Cassell has done everything you possibly can do as an assistant coach. And why he's not getting stronger consideration, given the strong rapport that he builds with star players everywhere he's been—I share the chat room's surprise there.
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Cavaliers associate head coach Johnnie Bryant and Rockets assistant coach Royal Ivey are two more names to monitor, league sources say. Ivey began establishing himself as an NBA head coaching candidate by steering South Sudan's national team into last summer's Paris Olympics and presumably would have an even stronger connection to this job if the Suns decide not to trade Ivey's close friend and former college teammate Kevin Durant.
Mike Brown, Jared Dudley among candidates for Suns job
Following the dismissal of former head coach Mike Budenholzer, the Phoenix Suns are expected to have an extensive, wide-ranging coaching search. Several coaching candidates are expected to be in the mix, including potential first-time NBA head coaches, including Cleveland Cavaliers associate head coach Johnnie Bryant, Houston Rockets assistant coaches Royal Ivey and Ben Sullivan, Miami Heat associate head coach Chris Quinn, Dallas Mavericks assistants Sean Sweeney and Jared Dudley, etc. Former head coaches Mike Brown and James Borrego are also expected to draw consideration for Phoenix’s coaching opening. Another interesting subplot amid Phoenix’s coaching search is the future of general manager James Jones, who delivered the news along with Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein to Budenholzer that he was out as coach. Jones is on an expiring contract, and the belief is his future is murky in Phoenix.
Mike Brown, Jared Dudley, Willie Green among candidates to be considered for Suns head coach
Chris Haynes: So sources related to me that these are a list of coaching candidates that are going to be looked at by the Phoenix Suns: Mike Brown – Former head coach of the Sacramento Kings Willie Green – Current Pelicans head coach We’re going to see: is Willie going to stay there in New Orleans? I mean, excuse me—New Orleans just parted ways with the President of Basketball Operations, David Griffin, and so we’re going to see if Willie is going to stay there in place or not. If Willie is going to be outed, Phoenix is definitely going to take a look at Willie. Willie spent some time in Phoenix. Chris Quinn – Miami assistant Johnnie Bryant – Cavaliers assistant Sean Sweeney – Mavericks assistant Jared Dudley – Mavericks assistant (Jared Dudley played in Phoenix, has strong ties to the Phoenix area) Royal Ivey – Rockets assistant David Fizdale – Suns assistant (currently) Kevin Young – Former Suns assistant and BYU head coach So those are some names that I was told that the team will look into and evaluate, and choose who they’re going to bring in for interviews. And so that’s the next phase right now.
Indeed, Luol Deng’s vision is being realized. His prophecy manifesting. “Every time we play, the whole nation stops to watch us play,” head coach Royal Ivey said. “We’re bringing them together. We’re uniting the fans and the people of South Sudan. And that’s way bigger than wins and losses.” Deng could’ve gone the front office route. He said the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls had interest when he retired in 2019. He surely would have found an assistant coach gig after 15 years in the NBA and the credibility of Duke on his résumé. But he knew if he’d remained in the league in a different capacity, he’d be consumed for another 15 years. And he might never ever go home. And Deng had to go home.
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South Sudan didn’t win its showdown with Team USA on Wednesday night. But neither did it lose. Indeed, Luol Deng’s vision is being realized. His prophecy manifesting. “Every time we play, the whole nation stops to watch us play,” head coach Royal Ivey said. “We’re bringing them together. We’re uniting the fans and the people of South Sudan. And that’s way bigger than wins and losses.”
Coach Ivey told Kevin Durant to stop complaining about the calls at one point in the game. On his way to the free throw line, one of the NBA's best players had some words for the South Sudan coach. "That's brotherly love. I don't lie; I tell the truth," Ivey recalled the situation. "They were fouling, and he got fouled, and he was like, 'Play basketball!' And I'm like, 'How are we supposed to play basketball? You are all playing touch like it's football.' So, we exchanged a couple of words, and I moved on," Ivey explained. "At the end of the day, that's all brotherly love, and I love that dude. And you know, the feeling is mutual. So, you know, he said something to me. I'm a competitor. I'm a jerk back."
"The resources are coming. The talent is there. We just got to cultivate that talent, and we will do that. It will take time, as it took three years ago when I was in AfroBasket with a different group of guys. And as the years go on, African basketball will get better. I promise you that this is just the tip of the iceberg. So at the end of the day, you're going to watch out for South Sudan in the near future because they're growing," Ivey promised.
“Being in the Olympics, and getting our first win. … My life is like a movie. So this is chapter 42, and this is an amazing chapter for me,” Ivey said. “Being here, playing in the league for 10 years, now I’m coaching, I’m the OG, I’m the old head. I never thought I’d be a coach. I thought I’d be a schoolteacher or run my own prep school, but I’m a coach and I’m investing in the youth and these young guys, so at the end of the day, man, like I said, my life is a movie."
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