Report: Suns Fire Igor Kokoskov

Late Monday night news broke the Phoenix Suns have reportedly fired head coach Igor Kokoskov after just one season.

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Phoenix has fired coach Igor Kokoskov, league sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 23, 2019

A former assistant coach in Phoenix under Alvin Gentry, Kokoskov was hired away from the Utah Jazz staff in early May of 2018. 

The Suns, who finished the season 19-63, named former vice president of basketball operations James Jones the club’s general manager earlier this month. 

The new hire will be the team’s fifth head coach in the last five seasons.

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Suns had planned to bring Kokoskov back for a second season, especially after the team’s stronger play in late stages of the season. Kokoskov has been a well-respected tactician who becomes another victim of the constant turnover in Phoenix. https://t.co/OgHCTGCTH7

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 23, 2019

Phoenix made little, if any, improvement under Kokoskov early last year and even a handful of late-season weren’t enough to save his job. The Suns finished last in the West for the third-straight year, 14 games behind the rest of the conference.

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Here’s a factor in the timing of Kokoskov’s dismissal: The Suns are planning to target Philadelphia 76ers assistant Monty Williams, league sources tell ESPN. Lakers are planning a second interview with Williams soon, sources said.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 23, 2019

Many believe Kokoskov’s support dwindled when former GM Ryan McDonough, who hired Kokoskov, was fired just days after the season started.

This marks the latest in an ugly track record under owner Robert Sarver. The Suns haven’t made the playoffs since the 2009-10 season.