HoopsHype.com Rumors

Despite reports to the contrary, the person said that Houston assistant Kelvin Sampson is not currently on the list. USA Today

Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Kelvin Sampson 

Brooklyn hasn't contacted Van Gundy, but sources said he's one of several candidates, including assistant Kelvin Sampson, who are on the organization's short list. Yahoo! Sports

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Jeff Van Gundy, Kelvin Sampson 

Chris Mannix: Nets have not asked Rockets for permission to interview Kelvin Sampson yet. But is poaching an assistant midseason appropriate? Twitter @ChrisMannixSI

Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Kelvin Sampson 

Chris Mannix: HOU wouldn't stand in Sampson's way of a head job, but Rox are playing well and Sampson, who's thrived since coming from college, a big part Twitter @ChrisMannixSI

Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Kelvin Sampson 

Sam Amick: Amid @wojyahoonba @kbergcbs reports Houston asst. Kelvin Sampson is Brooklyn candidate, I'm told Nets haven't asked Rockets for permission Twitter @sam_amick

Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Kelvin Sampson 

Houston Rockets assistant coach Kelvin Sampson has emerged as a significant candidate for the Brooklyn Nets' head-coaching job, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo! Sports

Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Kelvin Sampson 

Nets general manager Billy King is intrigued with Sampson, among other candidates, and is expected to eventually speak with him, sources said. Yahoo! Sports

Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Kelvin Sampson 

Ken Berger: As @Adrian Wojnarowski reports, Sampson a serious candidate. Though his departure would hurt Rockets, sources say team would not stand in his way. Twitter @KBergCBS

Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Kelvin Sampson 

“I thought Kelvin [Sampson] did a tremendous job, I really did,” McHale said. “I left after the Memphis game. We went there and got beat up pretty good by Memphis. We had a two-point game for a while, but they exposed some stuff and I had talked to Kelvin and the coaching staff about trying to do some other things. I thought they did a great job implementing that. NBA.com

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson 

Kelvin Sampson didn't hesitate when asked if Tuesday night was Jeremy Lin's best so far as a Houston Rocket. "No question. Without a doubt," Sampson said. "Best game he's played. Swagger... I thought he got his swagger back against New York. "He came back yesterday (Monday) and got a lot of shots up. He's been working hard with his shooting. You work at something, you're probably going to get better at it. But his confidence, his mojo, swagger, whatever you want to call it, he looks more comfortable on the court." CSN Houston

Houston Rockets, Jeremy Lin, Kelvin Sampson 

Fran Blinebury: Rockets coach Kelvin Sampson on Omer Asik's offense: "I saw flashes of no offense when he came in. Actually, his offense was offensive." Twitter @franblinebury

Houston Rockets, Omer Asik, Kelvin Sampson 

Delfino said he did about 70 percent of Monday’s practice. The Rockets do not have another full practice scheduled until Friday. Delfino had a sports hernia last season and surgery in the off-season, leading the Rockets to be especially cautious with his injury. “He’s close,” acting head coach Kelvin Sampson said. “He still has some pain, but I was encouraged today. I think it’s 50/50.” Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Kelvin Sampson 

The Rockets made plans to wear a green band on the shoulder of their uniforms to memorialize Sasha McHale, the daughter of Rockets coach Kevin McHale who passed on Saturday. Green was Sasha McHale’s favorite color. There will be a moment of silence before the team is introduced before Tuesday’s game against Toronto at Toyota Center. A memorial service will be held Wednesday morning in the Minneapolis area. “I talked at length with Kevin today, kind of a father-to-father talk,” Rockets acting head coach Kelvin Sampson said. “He’s doing funeral arrangements for his daughter. Tough time. Tough time for he and Lynn and the family. But you know Kevin is a stud. “He’s very emotional. That’s his baby girl. Nothing else needs to be said.” Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson 

McHale’s youngest daughter Sasha had died on Saturday in Minneapolis. She had been hospitalized with a condition related to her long battle with Lupus, an auto immune disease. She was 23 years old. “Sasha was a daddy’s girl,” said Kelvin Sampson, who has been Rockets acting head coach since McHale took a leave of absence Nov. 10 to be with her and his family. “I remember last year during the lockout when we were meeting, she got sick. She was on a study abroad and had to come back. He just talked about her all the time. It’s just tough. It’s terrible. Terrible, terrible, terrible.” Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson 

Tom Ziller: Heartbreakingly, Kelvin Sampson told a reporter four days ago that Sasha McHale's situation looked to be improving. Twitter @teamziller

Houston Rockets, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson 

He was wide open for a 3-point shot at the end of overtime that could have taken down the Heat a few nights earlier. “I was sitting in my office after the game by myself and knock came on my door,” Sampson said. “It was Jeremy. He walked into the office and said, ‘Coach, I want to apologize for missing that shot. I’ll make the next one.’ I gave him a fist bump and he walked out.“It didn’t surprise me. I know he’s a high-character kid and he cares.” NBA.com

Houston Rockets, Jeremy Lin, Kelvin Sampson 

On Tuesday evening, Jeremy Lin and Rockets acting head coach Kelvin Sampson joined the efforts of Kids’ Meals, a dedicated community partner of the Rockets organization, after concerning shortages prompted a collaboration between the Jeremy Lin Foundation and the Houston Rockets. Kids’ Meals Executive Director, Ruth Burrell, has seen the initial 1,200 families increase to 1,700 since her guidance in 2010. The program operates daily, year-round, Monday through Friday, delivering meals to homes of families with pre-school aged children, at no cost. “The Rockets had already given the Kids’ Meals team three big vans packed to the top with groceries, and the amount the organization provided was so much that they rented a U-Haul filling that up, too, but unfortunately, that only fed 1,200 families,” Burrell said. NBA.com

Houston Rockets, Jeremy Lin, Kelvin Sampson 

Sampson is serving as head coach through Kevin McHale’s leave of absence because of a family medical emergency. Though Sampson speaks with McHale several times a day, there is no timetable for his return. While the attention tonight will no doubt be on the other bench, where Mike D’Antoni is scheduled to make his debut as Lakers coach, the Rockets continue with more unusual circumstances, comparing filling in for McHale to a team playing without its star. Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson 

“He’s done a great job stepping up and being the head coach,” Rockets assistant J.B. Bickerstaff said. “One of the things he’s done is being very inclusive. … We’re heavily involved in the process. He’s been great in assuming the responsibilities, but also with the assistants. “For everybody, you’re trying to fill in a small piece of what we had with Mac. I think it falls on all the assistants to do that. Whatever is your focus, you have to up it. There are more decisions you have to make now, more you have to contribute because Mac is gone. I think everybody has to step up.” Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson 

The team announced earlier Saturday that McHale was taking an immediate leave of absence to deal with a family matter. Assistant coach Kelvin Sampson took over and said before the game he hoped the team would come together to win for McHale. USA Today

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson