PHOENIX SUNS

Report: Former Suns HC Igor Kokoskov to coach Turkey’s Fenerbahce

Jul 2, 2020, 10:41 AM | Updated: 12:35 pm

Phoenix Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov gestures during the second half of an NBA basketball game aga...

Phoenix Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov gestures during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)

(AP Photo/Danny Karnik)

Former Phoenix Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov, who since went on to become an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings, has agreed in principle to become the head coach of Fenerbahce in Istanbul, Turkey, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Thursday.

Kokoskov was the Suns’ head coach for the 2018-19 season to become the first NBA head coach born outside of North America.

He remained in Phoenix for just one year as the team had a 19-63 record and was without key pieces Devin Booker and T.J. Warren for chunks of the season. He was replaced by current head coach Monty Williams.

This season, Kokoskov has been an assistant on Luke Walton’s staff for Sacramento, which was 28-36 when the season stopped. The native of Serbia also was an assistant previously for Utah, Orlando, Cleveland, Phoenix, Detroit, and the L.A. Clippers.

Kokoskov also has previous head coaching experience overseas. He was the head coach of the Slovenian men’s national team and coached Luka Doncic, now on the Dallas Mavericks. He’s also currently the Serbian national team’s head coach.

Among the players on Fenerbahce this year was Derrick Williams, a University of Arizona product who was selected second overall in the 2011 NBA Draft.

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