Just a few days before training camp began, the Houston Rockets were dealt a surprising blow. Assistant coach Jeff Bzdelik, credited with playing a huge role in shaping the Rockets’ strong defense, was retiring.
There were rumors that Bzdelik was retiring due to conflicts with offseason addition Carmelo Anthony, whom Bzdelik had coached many years prior when Anthony was a rookie on the Denver Nuggets. However, the team insisted that the news was due to Bzdelik simply making a family and life decision, to step away from an incredibly demanding position.