Even though his focus is on the NBA Playoffs, Utah Jazz assistant Igor Kokoskov said that he is thrilled to be getting to work on rebuilding the Phoenix Suns.
Kokoskov became the first-ever head coach outside of North America by agreeing on a three-year deal with the Suns on Thursday.
A statement from Igor Kokoškov on accepting the head coaching position for the Phoenix Suns. pic.twitter.com/SC3PwPLEbn
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) May 4, 2018
“I am certainly proud to be the first head coach in the NBA raised outside North America and just as excited to return to the Suns organization and Phoenix, my family’s home for the past 10 years,” said Kokoskov, who served as a Suns assistant from 2008 to 2013, before moving to Salt Lake City.
“It’s a place where I was a part of tremendously talented and successful teams and I look forward to working towards a Championship,” he said in the statement.
Kokoskov won the Eurobasket crown last summer with Slovenia and is known for nurturing young talent, which could bode well for the Suns as the Serbian playcaller has a great relationship with Real Madrid’s Luka Doncic, who will be entering the NBA Draft this year.
