Nuggets Interested in Sparks’ Cooper

Spark Coach Michael Cooper is being considered for a job as assistant coach with the NBA’s Denver Nuggets.

According to sources, Denver General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe has had informal talks with Cooper’s representative regarding his interest and availability.

The Nuggets are tentatively planning a news conference next week to announce the promotion of assistant Jeff Bzdelik to the head-coaching job.

Cooper, who is here with the defending champion Sparks for their WNBA playoff series against the Seattle Storm, would neither confirm nor deny the report.

“I’m under contract with the Sparks and I’m happy,” said Cooper, who has been the Sparks’ coach since 1999. “As far as I’m concerned, I’m the L.A. Sparks’ coach going into next season.”

Cooper is 81-15 as the Sparks’ coach and has won three consecutive Western Conference regular season championships and last season’s WNBA title. His contract was extended for two more seasons before this season, but there is a provision in the contract allowing him to leave to take an NBA job.

Earlier this year Cooper, 46, was a candidate for the head-coaching position at the University of New Mexico, where he played college basketball, but he withdrew his name from consideration.

Bzdelik, 49, became the leading candidate for the Nuggets’ job after NBA assistant coaches Donn Nelson and Del Harris of Dallas, Eddie Jordan of New Jersey and Phil Johnson of Utah withdrew their names.

Bzdelik is considered an excellent defensive coach and defense is also Cooper’s forte. He was a five-time all-defensive first team selection during his 11-year NBA career.