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The Phoenix Suns will hire Utah Jazz assistant coach Igor Kokoskov as their next head coach, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Phoenix recently moved on from interim head coach Jay Triano, a former Trail Blazers assistant.
The Phoenix Suns are hiring Utah Jazz assistant Igor Kokoskov as their new head coach, league sources tell ESPN. Kokoskov, a native of Serbia, will be the first European born head coach in the NBA.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 2, 2018
Kokoskov is signing a three-year deal with the Suns, league sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/AvS6ILICtV
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 2, 2018
The coaching hire looks to help with the Suns’ new direction, according to NBA.com’s David Aldridge. Phoenix’s core revolves around budding star Devin Booker.
Suns’ stated intentions were to be aggressive free agency players this summer. Will be interesting to see how they frame Kokoskov hire into that narrative to potential FAs.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) May 2, 2018
The Suns also offered the job to former Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale, who turned down the position for an opportunity with the New York Knicks, ESPN’s Marc Spears reports.
Blazers assistants David Vanterpool (Hornets, Magic) and Nate Tibbetts (Hawks) have been busy interviewing for their own potential head-coaching gigs.