Melvin Hunt has never been a head coach at any level, but he is in serious consideration to be the head coach of two NBA franchises, the Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers.
Nuggets assistant Melvin Hunt candidate for Sixers, Denver job
Melvin Hunt isn’t a household name, but he’s reportedly being looked at as a potential head coach by the Nuggets, where he’s currently an assistant, and the Sixers.
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Hunt, who began his NBA coaching career under Rudy Tomjanovich with the Rockets and later with the Lakers, has served as an assistant to George Karl in Denver for three seasons. With Karl now gone, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the Nuggets want to promote him to head coach -- but the Sixers are also trying to get in on it as they look for a replacement for Doug Collins. From the Inquirer’s John N. Mitchell:
“The Sixers have not formally made contact to begin the process, but there has been some talk through the back channels,” a source said.
The Inquirer reports that the Sixers have not officially made contact with Heat assistant David Fizdale, who is also being considered. They add that Hunt had previously interviewed for a job with new Sixers GM Sam Hinkie when Hinkie was in the Rockets’ front office.
The 43-year-old played for Baylor in college, but a pro career didn’t pan out in the NBA. He took jobs as an assistant, first in high school, later for D-II Incarnate Word in Texas, before taking a series of increasing roles on Tomjanovich’s staff in Houston. He eventually became an assistant coach, and when Tomjanovich was replaced by Phil Jackson in 2005, Hunt caught on with Mike Brown, serving as his assistant with the Cavaliers from 2005 until Karl hired him in 2010.
The Nuggets have been reportedly pursuing bigger fish -- Lionel Hollins, Brian Shaw -- but Hunt is apparently a candidate to be promoted.
More from SB Nation:
See More:
