Pelicans interview Warriors assistant Alvin Gentry for head-coach position

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr has acknowledged that top assistant Alvin Gentry interviewed for the vacant New Orleans Pelicansjob.

Kerr's comments came before the Warriors hosted the Houston Rockets in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals, which they won 99-98, Thursday night. He said Gentry met with Pelicans officials earlier this week and that he encourages all of his assistant coaches to "embrace any opportunity that comes their way."

Kerr said the interview process hasn't taken Gentry away from his current coaching duties.

Kerr hired Gentry as his associate head coach and offensive coordinator when the Warriors hired him last May. Gentry was previously the head coach for Phoenix, where Kerr had been the general manager. Gentry also had been a head coach with the Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit and Miami.

Sources told ESPN.com that Gentry is one of the leading candidates for the position along with Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, who is widely expected to part company with the Bulls this offseason.

ESPN.com reported last week after the Bulls' second-round elimination against Cleveland that there is mutual interest between Thibodeau and the Pelicans in discussing the job that was vacated when Monty Williams was fired earlier this month.

Thibodeau, though, is under contract with the Bulls for the next two years at nearly $9 million.

Although it is widely believed throughout the league that both sides are eager to part company after five successful but rocky years together, the Bulls and Thibodeau still are operating as though he is Chicago's coach.

Information from ESPN.com's Marc Stein and The Associated Press was used in this report.