Report: Former Suns coach Hornacek to take job with Knicks
May 18, 2016, 4:57 PM | Updated: May 19, 2016, 4:11 pm
Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek talks to an official in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, in New York. The Nets won 94-91. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
The Phoenix Suns relieved head coach Jeff Hornacek of his duties on Feb.1 after the team got off to a 14-35 start to the season.
A little more than three months later, it appears he has a new job.
Breaking: Knicks will hire Jeff Hornacek as head coach, per NBA source.
— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) May 18, 2016
While Hornacek and the Knicks have not yet delved deep into contract negotiations, both parties are working toward a deal, reports the Wall Street Journal’s Chris Herring.
When the ink dries, Hornacek, who compiled a 101-112 record in two-plus seasons with the Suns, takes over a Knicks team that went 32-50 last season. He will be replacing interim head coach Kurt Rambis, who took over for Derek Fisher during the season.
The Suns, meanwhile, promoted interim coach Earl Watson to the role of full-time head coach on April 19. After taking over for Hornacek and receiving his former boss’ blessings to do so, Watson guided the Suns to a 9-24 record.
The Knicks’ hire of Hornacek would be surprising considering many felt president Phil Jackson was poised to hire interim coach Kurt Rambis as the full-time coach. Rambis is familiar with Jackson’s triangle offense that helped the former coach win titles with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.
Hornacek has no experience running the triangle and with the Suns coached an up-tempo, three-point heavy offense with ball-dominant point guards Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, Isaiah Thomas and Brandon Knight.
