Kevin McHale axed by Rockets: ‘Houston was not responding to him’

Head coach Kevin McHale of the Houston Rockets. Doug Pensinger/Getty Images/AFP

Houston did have a problem.

Following a dismal 4-7 start in the 2015-16 NBA season, the Rockets parted ways with head coach Kevin McHale on Wednesday after four years.

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey confirmed the decision in a report of CBS Sports, saying, “The team was not responding to Kevin McHale.”

“We believe in this team. We’re not in a good place. We’re losing by double digits to teams we need to beat.”

Houston has been one of the biggest disappointments early this year after losing its first three games. A four-game winning streak seemed to have turned the
tides for the squad, but the Rockets dropped four more games, which prompted a players-only meeting after their 111-95 loss to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday.

Assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff has been appointed as the interim head coach, with Chris Finch serving as the associate head coach.

McHale led Houston to back-to-back 54-win seasons, highlighted by the Rockets comeback from a 3-1 deficit against Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference Finals last year. They fell to eventual champions Golden State Warriors, 4-1.

The 57-year-old Celtics legend will leave with a 193-130 record with the Rockets with his 0.598 winning percentage being the best of the 12 coaches in franchise history.