Sources: D’Antoni-to-Rockets gathering steam

4:02 PM ET

Mike D’Antoni’s candidacy for the Houston Rockets’ ‎coaching job is gaining momentum, according to league sources.

Sources told ESPN on Wednesday that D’Antoni has emerged as a leading candidate for the post, having impressed Rockets owner Leslie Alexander in multiple conversations since the search began. Alexander vowed to ESPN last month during the playoffs that he would take a more active role in this coaching search than he has in the past.

The Houston Chronicle on Wednesday labeled D’Antoni as the frontrunner for the post.. One source close to the process told ESPN that the Rockets’ search had not yet progressed to that point but did say D’Antoni was indeed gaining steam in the search for a successor to Kevin McHale and interim replacement J.B. Bickerstaff.

Mike D’Antoni’s candidacy to coach the Houston Rockets is gaining steam, according to league sources. Soobum Im/USA TODAY Sports

ESPN reported Tuesday that Jeff Van Gundy has received strong support from Rockets general manager Daryl Morey to make a return to Houston for a second stint as Rockets coach, but sources say Alexander has yet to be sold on a reunion with the ESPN analyst, who has been working in television …

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