Igor Kokoskov won only 19 games but people are heated the Suns fired him
Apr 22, 2019, 11:05 PM | Updated: Apr 23, 2019, 3:28 pm
Phoenix Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov gestures during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Igor Kokoskov won just 19 games in his first season as head coach.
The head coach’s biggest mistakes included a baffling miscommunication that cost the Phoenix Suns a game against the Boston Celtics because players heard “no foul” when he called for an intentional foul.
He also once, walked on the court against the Pelicans … in the middle of a play. Like the Boston debacle, it also cost the Suns a regulation victory.
Still, it says a lot that basketball folks in Phoenix and elsewhere were baffled by the Suns firing Kokoskov on Monday.
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Phoenix will begin to look for its fifth coach in five seasons.
First, let’s see how the latest firing sat with the last head coach who was fired at an odd time, Earl Watson, who got the axe just three games into the 2017-18 season.
What?!
— Earl J Watson (@Earl_Watson) April 23, 2019
It’s hard to disagree with that guttural reaction.
What about Charles Barkley, who addressed Kokoskov’s firing — and the unlikelihood of Barkley joining the Suns in a front office position — on Inside the NBA?
Charles Barkley with some strong words regarding the Suns firing of Igor Kokoskov on @NBAonTNT #DumpsterFire 🗑🔥 pic.twitter.com/deBtJSOvUw
— Zona Sports (@AZSportsZone) April 23, 2019
The Suns continue to be impatient at the oddest of times. Regardless of what Kokoskov proved or didn’t, could he really do much with a team of sub-25-year-olds? Could he be expected to win without, you know, a point guard?
Former Suns forward Matt Barnes doesn’t think so. Few disagreed.
Coaching isn’t the problem w the @Suns the owner is! Sarver is the worst owner in the NBA.. Do that great city of phnx a solid & sell the team, they deserve a winner! You’re wasting Devin Bookers career
— Matt Barnes (@Matt_Barnes22) April 23, 2019
— Matt Barnes (@Matt_Barnes22) April 23, 2019
Igor Kokoskov is gone, off to join the line of fired Suns executives who take their pink slip and free money and speak no evil until the contract expires.
— Dan Bickley (@danbickley) April 23, 2019
#HireGreta pic.twitter.com/vLxT4364NY
— Wobovan Mitchell (@WorldWideWob) April 23, 2019
They gave Igor Kokoskov a team with zero point guards, no shooting outside of Booker, and 75% of the team is 23 and under.
What the hell did you expect would happen this year?
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) April 23, 2019
You couldn’t have worked the lines to get this done ahead of time if this is who you wanted? College coaches and agents figure out the backchannels every year, and the Suns are out here playing checkers. https://t.co/YhbxJNIaxX
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) April 23, 2019
Like, Igor did a lot of things wrong this year, the way a lot of first-year coaches do. But seriously? With that roster?
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) April 23, 2019
Jason Kidd waking up this morning and checking his phone like: pic.twitter.com/4DboKY0G4M
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) April 23, 2019
Suns firing Igor Kokoskov is so Suns, my column (meme) pic.twitter.com/AFQ8W77qDd
— Kevin Zimmerman (@KZimmermanAZ) April 23, 2019
Is there time for Igor to come back to the Jazz' coaching staff for the rest of this quarter?
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) April 23, 2019
The #Suns fired Kokoskov. Boy, if a guy named Igor can't get you over the hump, who can
— Jarrett Carlen (@JarrettGC) April 23, 2019
Welcome to the Suns front office pic.twitter.com/dutTZ2hVNt
— Ben Mallis (@BenMallis) April 23, 2019
— ra (@Rillymeen) April 23, 2019
less stability than my marriage
— AFunkyDiabetic (@FunkyDiabetic1) April 23, 2019
Only real question now is who’s the sad sap that’s gonna get fired this time next year?
— Jared (@azsportsfien) April 23, 2019
— T0R0NT0 (@TheNorthWays) April 23, 2019
