Sources: Pistons plan to interview Kenny Smith for vacant head-coaching job

Shams Charania

The Detroit Pistons plan to interview TNT analyst and former NBA champion Kenny Smith for the franchise’s vacant head-coaching job, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Smith had a 10-year NBA career with the Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets, winning two NBA championships with the Rockets in 1995 and ’96. Smith, 53, also has worked as a broadcaster and analyst for TNT Sports since 1998, but has never coached in the NBA.

TNT analyst and former NBA vet Kenny Smith has never coached in the NBA. (AP)
TNT analyst and former NBA vet Kenny Smith has never coached in the NBA. (AP)

San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Ime Udoka and Miami Heat assistant Juwan Howard are also candidates in the coaching search, league sources said.

The Pistons are expected to soon interview all three candidates, as well as former Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey, a strong candidate for the job, league sources said. Casey was fired by the Raptors in May after Toronto was swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

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