Phoenix Suns to hire former Bucks interim coach Joe Prunty as assistant
Jun 4, 2018, 10:32 AM | Updated: 12:34 pm
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Joe Prunty calls to his players during the second quarter of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics in Boston, Saturday, April 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
The Phoenix Suns will be adding former Milwaukee Bucks interim coach Joe Prunty to Igor Kokoskov’s staff as lead assistant, as 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s John Gambadoro confirmed the news reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Prunty, 49, replaced the fired Jason Kidd midway through the Bucks’ 2017-18 season. He led the team to a 21-16 regular season record and a seven-game series loss to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Like Kokoskov, Prunty has an extensive history as an assistant coach in the NBA. He was with the San Antonio Spurs from 2002-05, the Dallas Mavericks from 2005-08 and the Portland Trail Blazers from 2008-10. From there, he was with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2010-13, the Brooklyn Nets for one season in 2013-14 and then was with the Bucks from 2014 until Mike Budenholzer was named head coach on May 17.
Prunty interviewed for the Bucks’ head coaching opening.
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He has won two NBA championships, both coaching for the Spurs in 2003 and 2005.
The Suns have also added former NBA player Corliss Williamson to Kokoskov’s coaching staff.
