NBA News Round-Up, Sep. 17: KD Plans to Join LeBron in LA; League sets salary cap for next 2 seasons

Rockets' assistant coach Jeff Bzdelik to retire before the season

Jeff Bzdelik (center) with Chris Paul (left) and Mike D'Antoni (right)

The defensive wizard of Mike D'Antoni's Houston Rockets coaching staff, Jeff Bzdelik has reportedly informed the team that he would retire before the start of the 2018-19 season.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to report the news.

In a blow to the Houston Rockets, associate head coach Jeff Bzdelik -- architect of franchise's rejuvenated defense -- has informed team he's retiring, league sources tell ESPN. Bzdelik, 65, was a head coach with Nuggets in NBA and Colorado, Air Force and Wake Forest in college.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 17, 2018

Bzdelik has been in the business of coaching basketball since 1978, of which he has spent 18 years in the NBA - 2 as a head coach and the rest as an assistant with the Memphis Grizzlies, Washington Bullets, Miami Heat and the Rockets.

“Great to work with. We’ll miss him,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He had an unbelievable career in the NBA. Wish him the best in his next phase.”

According to Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feign, the team is set to shift his responsibilities throughout the remaining staff - assistant Roy Rodgers (likely to lead the defense) and former Vipers coach Matt Brase.