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University of Michigan Coach Juwan Howard has rebuffed advances for vacant NBA coaching roles, despite rumors he was on a Portland Trail Blazers wishlist, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Sources: Michigan’s Juwan Howard continues to tell NBA teams he's not interested in even a discussion on leaving Ann Arbor. Teams are also calling to gather intel on Memphis coach Penny Hardaway's work. He's going to get offers to interview for openings in this NBA job cycle.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 10, 2021
Wojnarowski initially reported that Howard was a target for the Blazers an hour after Terry Stotts departed the role last week.
Among candidates expected to be considered for the Blazers opening, sources tell ESPN: Clippers assistant Chauncey Billups, Jeff Van Gundy, Nets assistant Mike D’Antoni, and Michigan’s Juwan Howard.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 5, 2021
Former Wolverines teammate and friend Jalen Rose has told the Rich Eisen Show that Howard’s “heart is in Ann Arbor.”
“I know that he wants to bring a National Championship back to the school and we do have the number one recruiting class coming in next year and I know he’s excited, he and his staff of coaches.”
“And so I would tell you to breathe easy that I anticipate that he’ll still be with us for the foreseeable future and is committed to doing all the things he said in his initial press conference.”
Howard, along with Rose and Chris Webber, was a member of the Wolverines’ Fab Five, the first all-freshman team to compete for a national championship in 1991.
In 1994, he was taken by the then Washington Bullets with the fifth pick before stints with the Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, Charlotte Bobcats and finally the Miami Heat, where he was part of the 2012 and 2013 championship squads. In the midst of those stops, he spent the 2009-10 season with the Trail Blazers.
Howard recorded averages of 13.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists throughout his 19-year career.
Post playing career, Howard was assistant to Heat coach and Portland product Erik Spoelstra for six season before returning as Michigan coach in 2019.