Source- Elston Turner to return to Rockets as lead assistant

By Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle

Updated 10:52 am CDT, Thursday, June 27, 2019

The Rockets reached agreement on Thursday with long-time NBA assistant Elston Turner to return to the team as lead assistant primarily focused on running the defense, an individual with knowledge of the deal said.

Turner was an assistant with the Rockets for four years under Rick Adelman, leaving a strong impression with the team then and in the interview process when the Rockets were looking for a successor to Adelman before choosing Kevin McHale.

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Turner replaces Jeff Bzdelik, who was told after the season that he would not return after he came back during the 2018-19 season.

Turner, who played eight NBA seasons with the Mavericks, Nuggets and Bulls, has been an NBA assistant coach for 20 seasons with the Trail Blazers, Kings, Rockets, Grizzlies and Suns, returning to Sacramento for the past three seasons.

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He met with Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni this weekend before the organization reached agreement on a deal.

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