The Phoenix Suns have worked hard to get themselves in position to turn things around. A lottery team for three consecutive seasons following a trip to the Western Conference Finals, they’ve gone through a couple general managers as well as a couple different coaches. The hope is that the combination of Ryan McDonough as GM […]
When was the last time the Phoenix Suns made consecutive good decisions? How about three in a row? Few will complain about the team’s offseason, and that’s an amazing feat for an organization that has given folks plenty to be upset about over the years. Fire GM Lance Blanks? No qualms there. Hire Ryan McDonough […]
Press conferences announcing a new coach, in any sport, are not very edgy. Breaking news rarely comes from a press conference, especially the variety that introduces a coach or player to a new market. The principle rarely says anything that shouldn’t be said and remains extremely positive and optimistic. The organization is great, the players […]
Until the hiring of Jeff Hornacek, the head coach position wasn’t the only thing missing in the Suns’ organizational structure. The executive conference room was also lacking the perspective of someone who played the game. Yes, former NBA All-Star Jeff Hornacek was hired to coach the Suns. And, to some degree, Hornacek will also be […]
New Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek’s task of putting together a staff may have taken a hit, as assistant Igor Kokoskov has decided to join Mike Brown with the Cleveland Cavaliers. According to Arizona Sports 620’s Craig Grialou, Kokoskov, who had been with the Suns since 2008, was hoping to stay in the Valley […]
The Phoenix Suns have been a model NBA franchise that has enjoyed success for a long time. They are currently in an unusual situation. It’s only the third time in the Suns 45-year history they’ve endured three consecutive losing seasons. You don’t have three different head coaches in less than a year if things are […]
During last week’s appearance on Arizona Sports 620’s Doug and Wolf, Phoenix Suns forward Jared Dudley made it known that he wanted a coach who knew the game inside and out and who could teach the fundamentals. New general manager Ryan McDonough certainly answered Dudley’s wishes with the hire of Jeff Hornaceck, a consummate professional […]
The Phoenix Suns hired Jeff Hornacek to be their head coach for a variety of reasons, but central among them is his ability to teach. A 14-year veteran who was not necessarily known for his supreme athletic ability, Hornacek got the most out of himself and it is hoped he’ll be able to do the […]
For his first hire as the Phoenix Suns general manager, Ryan McDonough wanted a head coach wih a high basketball acumen, an ability to develop young talent and leadership qualities that extend from the bench to the community. According to McDonough, during the interview process Jeff Hornacek personified those characteristics, and additionally impressed with his […]
New general manager: check. New head coach: check. New players… Yeah, we’ll have to get back to you on that. The plan though, as laid out by managing partner Robert Sarver and president of basketball operations Lon Babby, is starting to take shape. It began with the hire of Ryan McDonough as GM. It continued […]
Optimism is the most quintessential component of an introductory press conference, and Jeff Hornacek’s was littered with it on Tuesday when he was officially introduced as the next head coach of the Phoenix Suns. After spending the first five minutes of the conference reflecting on his time playing for the organization, weaving in other significant […]
Many people felt that Jeff Hornacek would make a good head coach when he decided to put an end to his playing career. A veteran of 14 NBA seasons, the sharp-shooting guard out of Iowa State was a bit of a “coach on the floor,” always making sure he and his teammates were in the […]
It’s official — the Phoenix Suns have found their new head coach. Former Suns guard Jeff Hornacek, who played with the team from 1986 to 1992, was hired Tuesday morning to take over for interim head coach Lindsey Hunter. “We are thrilled to introduce Jeff Hornacek as the new head coach of the Phoenix Suns,” […]
Jeff Hornacek is expected to become the next head coach of the Phoenix Suns, but how well do you remember him? After all, Hornacek last wore a Suns jersey in 1992 and, despite having a prolific career in Utah, it’s tough to stay in touch with someone over the years. This feature on Hornacek originally […]
It looks like the Phoenix Suns have found their next head coach, and it’s a familiar name and face to basketball fans in the Valley. As Arizona Sports 620’s John Gambadoro first reported, the Suns began talks Saturday night with Utah Jazz assistant coach Jeff Hornacek to take over the head coaching reins in Phoenix. […]
As first reported by Arizona Sports 620’s John Gambadoro Saturday night, the Phoenix Suns are currently negotiating with Jeff Hornacek to become the team’s next head coach. While Gambo noted that an official announcement might not be made until Tuesday, let’s take a look back by the numbers at Hornacek’s NBA career — both as […]
In a Thursday afternoon interview with ESPNLA 710, former Phoenix Suns head coach Alvin Gentry ESPNLosAngeles.com that Gentry will indeed be considered for the Clippers’ position. Gentry added, “I would love to run the team again.”
Now that the NBA’s Draft Lottery is finished and the order is set, teams can start figuring out where they will need to be if they want to select certain players. The Phoenix Suns, who hold the fifth pick, are in an interesting spot. While they’re not likely to land one of the top prospects […]
He was the first player mentioned by name by new general manager Ryan McDonough. “Goran Dragic is a very good, tough point guard; a player I’ve liked for a while,” McDonough said at his introductory press conference. In a Suns season that went very much wrong, Goran Dragic did a lot right. He led the […]
The NBA Draft is an inexact science. No matter how much effort is spent scouting and researching, there are variables that can’t be accounted for. The goal is to limit risk by following patterns of previous success to try and find a player that can be a valuable asset to your franchise as a building […]
New Phoenix Suns general manager Ryan McDonough said there has been “good progress” in the search for a head coach, as he has a good list of options to choose from. According to Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski, the team has been granted permission to interview L.A. Lakers assistant Steve Clifford as well as Houston Rockets […]
When Ryan McDonough was hired by the Phoenix Suns he called finding a head coach his “first order of business as general manager.” Two weeks later, finding “the best guy for that job” remains a top priority; yet the vacancy remains. “We’ve made good progress,” McDonough said. “In terms of anything being imminent, no, but […]
Gambo and I didn’t win the Powerball. The Suns didn’t win the lottery. Life goes on. In the end, the result is something you can certainly live with. Gambo and I couldn’t retire, but we still have a pretty cool gig. And the Suns have the fifth pick in the draft. While it’s always preferable […]
Phoenix Suns forward Jared Dudley likely won’t have a say in who general manager Ryan McDonough and Co. hire as the next head coach, but the six-year veteran definitely has an idea of what he wants. Dudley, who has already played for five coaches (Sam Vincent, Larry Brown, Terry Porter, Alvin Gentry and Lindsey Hunter) […]
The ping pong balls have spoken, and they’ve said the Phoenix Suns will have the fifth selection in the 2013 NBA Draft. Phoenix, which had the fourth-worst record in the league at 25-57 last season, moved down one spot due to the Washington Wizards moving up from number nine. “We obviously would have liked to […]
Thus far, it has been a year of change for the Phoenix Suns. There’s a new general manager. There soon will be a new head coach. And on Tuesday, there will be a new Suns representative in the 2013 NBA Draft Lottery. Lon Babby, president of basketball operations, will be the one on stage at […]
For the third straight season, the Phoenix Suns will be participating in the NBA’s draft lottery. Last year we did a story on the team’s odds of winning the top pick (0.6 percent). As you know, the team ended up selecting 13th. However, the team’s chances of landing a top three pick this time around […]
The Phoenix Suns won’t know their lottery fate until Tuesday night, but this week’s NBA Combine (May 15-18) in Chicago may have offered GM Ryan McDonough a little more clarity as to what player the team will target with their first pick come June 27. Most of the expected lottery picks took part in the […]
All offseason, Phoenix Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby has said interim coach Lindsey Hunter was a legitimate candidate to land the job on a permanent basis. However, new general manager Ryan McDonough will have a say in the matter, and given that he’s coming from a completely different organization, he has little attachment […]
Ryan McDonough is attacking his job as general manager on two fronts: Finding a head coach and preparing for the draft. “My immediate focus after finding a coach is drafting the best players,” he said last week when he was introduced as the team’s fifth GM in seven years. While the search for a coach […]
