Former Rockets assistant Mahmoud Abdelfattah will leave Houston to take a position as head coach of the Sydney Kings of Australia’s National Basketball League (ABL), per Olgun Uluc of ESPN.
New head coach Ime Udoka is hiring his own staff of assistants, including many from his former tenure leading the Boston Celtics in 2021-22. None of the former Houston assistants under previous head coach Stephen Silas have been retained.
Prior to working with the Rockets last season, Abdelfattah spent three years as head coach of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Houston’s NBA G League affiliate. While there, he guided the Vipers to the 2022 G League title and won the league’s Coach of the Year award.
Now 34, Abdelfattah is widely known for his offensive acumen, and it may make him an NBA head coaching option down the line.
During his title-winning season as head coach of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Abdelfattah's team was No. 1 in the G-League in both pace + offensive efficiency. The Kings led the NBL in pace last season so, stylistically, looks like we'll see a continuation of that on the court.
— Olgun Uluc (@OlgunUluc) June 21, 2023
“To get the opportunity to coach the Kings, on the back of their amazing track record over the past few seasons, in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, is amazing,” Abdelfattah told ESPN. “After speaking with both Chase (Buford) and Will (Weaver), both loved their experience in Sydney and raved about how phenomenal the organization is, it felt like the perfect next step in my career.”
“Honestly, outside of the United States, the NBL is the league that most resembles the NBA, in terms of style and developmental systems. That is important to me, as I want all players to fulfill their potential, be that Australia or taking the next step to the NBA.”
Weaver was an assistant with the Rockets during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 season, which immediately preceded Abdelfattah’s stint on Silas’ bench. Prior to that, Weaver was the head coach in Sydney, where one of his players was current Rockets forward Jae’Sean Tate.
