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The Phoenix Suns Narrow Down Their Search for a New Head Coach
The Phoenix Suns will interview four candidates, including two NBA champion coaches, Nick Nurse and Doc Rivers, in the final round this week, sources informed ESPN on Tuesday night.
Nurse and Rivers, along with Suns associate head coach Kevin Young and Sacramento Kings associate head coach Jordi Fernandez, two up-and-coming coaches, will reportedly meet with top management.
Insiders claim that Nurse has established a solid reputation as a candidate for the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks’ coaching positions. Insiders claim that Nurse, Toronto assistant Adrian Griffin, and Golden State associate head coach Kenny Atkinson are the three finalists in Milwaukee. He reportedly also spoke with the Philadelphia 76ers during an interview.
The Suns are searching for a successor to Monty Williams, who was sacked by the team after the Suns’ semifinal loss to the eventual conference champion Denver Nuggets. Two of the league’s best players, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, are mentioned in the Suns’ recruitment pitch.
Nurse’s five seasons as Toronto’s head coach included the NBA title in 2019, the NBA Coach of the Year Award in 2020, and a 227-163 (.582) record.
In his three seasons, Rivers led the team to its most victories since 2000-01 with 54 in 2022–23, enough for a 154–82 (.653) record. The Sixers were one of three teams in the top 10 for both offensive and defensive efficiency, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Rivers has had 16 straight winning seasons as a head coach.
Young worked as a coach in the G League for eight years, serving as head coach of the Utah Flash, Iowa Energy, and Delaware 87ers. He has gained popularity as a candidate for head coaching jobs this season, and he is now being considered for positions with the Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, and Suns, among other teams. Young recently met with the Sixers, Utah Jazz, and Washington Wizards for interviews regarding head coaching vacancies.
Fernandez was a key member of Michael Malone’s coaching staff during the first six seasons of the Nuggets before taking over as the associate head coach of the Sacramento Kings in 2022 under NBA Coach of the Year Mike Brown. Spain’s Badalona is where he was born. Free sports picks websites currently have Nick Nurse as the favorite to get this job.
