The Houston Rockets ended their 2020 playoff campaign in the second round. They suffered a 1-4 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers. This loss also meant that Mike D’Antoni wouldn’t be returning as the Rockets’ head coach next season. Who is to blame for D’Antoni’s exit? Well, a few fingers have pointed at the front office for their negligence. 

Mike D’Antoni informed the team that he wouldn’t be returning as coach next season when they were on the flight back from Orlando. It was a bizarre time indeed, as the 69-year-old kept the news secret until the very last moment.     

Now, the four-year marriage between D’Antoni and the Rockets is at an end. It is a shame that even though D’Antoni shaped the Rockets well, he was unable to guide them to the NBA Finals. 

Former Houston Rockets player feels the management is to be blamed for D’Antoni’s exit

Corey Brewer has played for several teams in his NBA career, and Houston was one of them. The 34-year-old played three seasons for the Rockets and has had the experience of playing under Mike D’Antoni. He recently joined ‘SportsTalk 790’s The A-Team’ where he detailed how the Rockets should go about with their coach hunting. D’Antoni established a revolutionary style in Houston, and players like James Harden benefitted from it. 

Brewer felt the Rockets are to be blamed for letting go of D’Antoni. “In my mind, they should’ve locked up Mike before the season started and they wouldn’t even have this situation. Because I think Mike is a great coach for this situation and I think he did a great job,” he mentioned. 

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Brewer mentioned how luck was a spoilsport in D’Antoni’s success, and that he was a great coach regardless. “He had some bad luck with Chris Paul and the hamstring two years ago and Russell [Westbrook] wasn’t really healthy at the beginning of the playoffs, so he had some bad luck. I think if they would’ve locked him up he would have been a great fit, but now it’s back to the drawing board and it’s up to Daryl,” Brewer said.

Mike D’Antoni undoubtedly ranks as one of the most successful coaches in history. He’s been in this business for too long and is now ready for a new venture with a different team. In his four seasons with the Rockets, D’Antoni registered a winning percentage of 68.2% in the regular season (217-101).