The Portland Trail Blazers have expanded their head-coaching search to include New York Knicks associate head coach Chris Jent, according to multiple reports.
Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report first linked Jent to the opening in recent days, and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line corroborated that the longtime assistant has “emerged” as a candidate. Jent joins Micah Nori and Tyler Lashbrook, the two remaining finalists identified two weeks ago.
Portland’s process slowed while team owner Tom Dundon focused on his other franchise, the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, who captured the Stanley Cup during the search. In that span, original finalist Tiago Splitter accepted an offer from Chicago, leaving the Blazers to revisit their list.
Veteran résumé
Jent, 54, played professionally from 1992 to 2002, including brief NBA stints with the Houston Rockets and New York Knicks. He moved into coaching in 2003 and has served as an assistant with the 76ers, Magic, Cavaliers, Kings, Hawks, Lakers, Hornets, and most recently the Knicks. His experience also includes stops at Ohio State, a head-coaching role with the G League’s Bakersfield Jam, and an interim head-coaching assignment in Orlando in 2005.
Although hired by New York last August, Jent had not been tied to any head-coaching openings this offseason until Portland’s interest surfaced. Following the Knicks’ Game 5 victory Saturday, head coach Mike Brown publicly endorsed him, noting Jent’s role as offensive coordinator and his championship in last summer’s NBA Summer League.
Portland has reportedly considered more than 15 candidates during its protracted search. No timeline has been announced for a final decision.
Source: Hoops Rumors
