European Coaches to NBA

[TalkBasket]

Igor Kokoskov makes NBA history, becomes Phoenix Suns head coach

Utah Jazz assistant Igor Kokoskov will be the new head coach of the Phoenix Suns on a three-year deal.

Serbian native Kokoskov, will become the first head coach born and raised outside North America in NBA history, Despite being part of a franchise with an NBA-worst record of 21-61, Kokoskov guided Slovenia to last summer’s Eurobasket crown in Istanbul.

He will begin his duties as head coach after Utah’s season concludes. They are currently tied at 1-1 against the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference semi-finals.

According to ESPN, Jazz coach Quin Snyder and general manager Dennis Lindsey have credited Kokoskov with a great deal of the growth of Utah’s young roster.

This includes being part of nurturing Luka Doncic, who was one of the star players in Slovenia’s Eurobasket triumph and will enter this year’s NBA Draft following a stellar season with Real Madrid.

https://www.talkbasket.net/28213-igor-ko...head-coach

Igor Kokoskov thrilled to get going in Phoenix

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.

https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/992203393283178496

“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.

https://www.talkbasket.net/28217-igor-ko...in-phoenix