PHOENIX SUNS

Tom Chambers: Brian Shaw, Jeff Hornacek should be on Suns’ short list of coaches

May 11, 2013, 1:33 AM | Updated: 3:04 pm

LISTEN: Tom Chambers, Suns legend

When it comes to the Phoenix Suns’ coaching search, Tom Chambers doesn’t have a horse in the race. But as a former player who spent five years with the organization and currently works as a Fox Sports Arizona analyst, the four-time All-Star definitely has an idea of who he’d like to see on the bench next season.

Chambers was a guest of Arizona Sports 620’s Doug & Wolf Friday and was asked to give the names of a few candidates he thought would make for a great hire.

“A guy who has played in the NBA, a guy who has been on the bench and had some experience, so obviously a Brian Shaw comes to mind,” Chambers said. “He’s been out there for a long time and should’ve gotten the job in Los Angeles instead of Mike Brown. Obviously with Mike D’Antoni coming in late, he would have done a tremendous job there.”

Shaw, a first-round draft pick of the Boston Celtics in 1988, played 14 seasons in the league and won three championships with the Los Angeles Lakers (2000-02). Following his retirement in 2003, Shaw made the move to the Lakers’ bench, where he served as an assistant under Phil Jackson and Rudy Tomjanovich from 2004-11. During his tenure in Los Angeles, the team won two titles.

As Chambers mentioned, Shaw was considered the favorite to fill the Lakers’ head coaching vacancy when Jackson retired at the end of the 2011 Playoffs, but the team elected to hire Mike Brown instead.

For the past two seasons, Shaw has served as the Indiana Pacers’ associate head coach.

While Shaw has been a popular name in NBA circles of late — interviewed with Charlotte, Orlando and Portland last summer — Chambers said he knows another candidate the Suns should consider for the position.

“One name that always comes to my mind who was a coach of mine even though he wasn’t a coach on the court was Jeff Hornacek,” said Chambers. “He was spectacular, played in the league and was an All-Star in the league.

“I believe firmly that if you’ve done it and you’re asking these kids today to do something you’ve already done, it’s an easier task. Jeff came from a coaching family, he’s always been a coach, he had to always work to hone his game…He knows what hard work is all about.”

Hornacek has strong ties to the Valley, having been drafted by the Suns in the second round of the 1986 draft. The sharp-shooting guard played six seasons in Phoenix before being shipped to the Philadelphia 76ers in the trade that sent Charles Barkley to the Suns before the 1992-93 season.

The former Iowa State standout played 14 years in the league and made two appearances in the NBA Finals with the Utah Jazz in 1997 and 1998. The two-time All-Star retired in 2000 but was hired by the organization as a special assistant in 2007-08. He became a full-time assistant on Tyrone Corbin’s staff beginning in February 2011.

On Wednesday, Arizona Sports 620’s John Gambadoro wrote that he thought new general manager Ryan McDonough’s short list of candidates included Shaw along with experienced assistants Mike Budenholzer, Kelvin Sampson and Quin Snyder.

When asked about it on Burns and Gambo Thursday, McDonough wouldn’t confirm or deny who he had interest in.

“Those [four coaches] are all good names,” said McDonough. “The short answer is yes [we’re looking at a framework based on guys like that], but the longer answer is we are looking at other guys as well.

“We’re open to all kinds of coaches, guys who have had success whether it be at the head coaching level, the assistant coaching level. We’re really just trying to evaluate all of them and prioritize that now.”

While McDonough said the hiring process started during his initial interview for the GM job, Chambers had one piece of advice for the 33-year-old exec: focus on those who have had success as a coach and as a player.

“When you can interview a Brian Shaw who was with Phil Jackson for all those years or a Jeff Hornacek who was with Jerry Sloan for all those years and also played the game at a high level, I start with people like that.”

Phoenix Suns

Isaiah Thomas...

Dan Bickley

Isaiah Thomas signing is a wild swing for Suns in desperate times

Isaiah Thomas is a born fighter. He’s beaten the odds. The chip on his shoulder is permanent. It’s easy to rally around a player like him.

6 hours ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Bickley Blast: Are the Phoenix Suns superstars done with Frank Vogel?

On Monday's Bickley Blast, Dan Bickley asks the question if the Suns' superstars have had bad body language recently and if it's because they want Frank Vogel gone.

11 hours ago

Dalton Knecht, Tennessee...

Damon Allred

Here’s who Phoenix Suns fans should be watching during March Madness

The Phoenix Suns are slated to have a first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and they could select one of the stars of the NCAA Tournament.

1 day ago

Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against Grayson Allen #8 of the Phoenix ...

Kellan Olson

Suns’ shocking lack of urgency continues in loss to Bucks without Giannis

The Phoenix Suns are playing like they have been afforded the luxury of time. But they are just about to run out of it.

1 day ago

Josh Okogie #2 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the second half of the NBA game at Footp...

David Veenstra

Suns’ Josh Okogie out for matchup vs. Bucks, Antetokounmpo also out

Phoenix Suns' Josh Okogie is out for Sunday's game against the Bucks. Okogie has missed the past seven games with a lower abdominal strain.

1 day ago

Isaiah Thomas...

Damon Allred

Isaiah Thomas to return to Suns on 10-day contract, per report

Nearly two years since his last NBA minutes, point guard Isaiah Thomas is planning to sign a 10-day contract with the Phoenix Suns.

2 days ago

Tom Chambers: Brian Shaw, Jeff Hornacek should be on Suns’ short list of coaches