Former NBA head coach Igor Kokoskov, who has served as an assistant coach under Quin Snyder with the Atlanta Hawks over the past two seasons, is set to return to Europe as the new head coach of Turkish powerhouse Anadolu Efes, according to Aris Barkas of Eurohoops.
Initial reports by Basketball Sphere indicated Efes’ interest in Kokoskov, and Meridian Sport later confirmed that the two parties were in the final stages of negotiating a deal.
Born in Serbia, Kokoskov holds the distinction of being the first NBA head coach born and raised outside North America, having led the Phoenix Suns during the 2018-19 season.
Barkas also highlights that Kokoskov was the first non-American coach to be part of an NBA championship-winning team, serving as an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons in 2004.
Throughout his extensive coaching career, the 53-year-old has held head coaching positions with several national teams, including Georgia, Serbia, and Slovenia. Notably, he guided Slovenia to a historic EuroBasket gold medal in 2017.
Since 2000, Kokoskov has gained valuable NBA experience as an assistant coach with a variety of teams such as the Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit Pistons, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets, and most recently the Atlanta Hawks.
He will succeed Luca Bianchi as the head coach of Anadolu Efes, a top-tier club that competes at the highest level in both the EuroLeague and Turkey’s Basketball Super League (BSL).
Former Hawks assistant Igor Kokoskov is accepting a job in Turkey: https://t.co/JQW0L0i0Mv
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) June 15, 2025
