LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Mike D’Antoni has told the Houston Rockets that he will not be back as coach with them next season, and he essentially becomes a free agent, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.D’Antoni told the Rockets on Sunday — not even a full day after the team’s season ended with a playoff loss to the Los Angeles Lakers — that he would seek coaching options elsewhere for next season and not return to Houston.
The person with knowledge of those talks spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team had yet to announce anything publicly.ESPN first reported D’Antoni’s decision.It was not totally unexpected; the Rockets and D’Antoni couldn’t agree on an extension last year, meaning he was.