2021-Present Phoenix Suns (Assistant Coach Monty Williams), 2020-2021 Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Assistant Coach Tom Hankins), 2014-2020 New Orleans Pelicans (Assistant Coach Alvin Gentry & Monty Williams), Karen Marrero Ayers also spent two seasons as an assistant coach with both the Orlando Magic (2005-2007) and Washington Wizards (2007-2009), and another season as an assistant coach with Philadelphia in 2009-10, before joining Williams staff in New Orleans. A 12-year NBA veteran, Green has been an assistant with the Suns for the past two seasons and spent the previous three seasons on the Golden State Warriors' coaching staff. Bryant and Williams were teammates together with the 76ers for part of the 2002-03 season. Prior to being selected with the 41st overall pick by Seattle in 2003, Green was a four-year standout at the University of Detroit Mercy. The native of Silver Spring, Maryland worked as an equity capital markets analyst from 2016-2017 before his time at George Mason. Maurice Cheeks, Josh Longstaff, John Bryant, Damian Cotter and Billy Schmidt join head coach Billy Donovans staff. Do you have a blog? Both he and Williams worked together in 2018-19 under Brent Brown. In 2012, the Serbian native initially joined the Thunder organization as head coach of their NBA G League affiliate, the Tulsa 66ers, becoming the first head coach born outside North America in NBA G League history. The Suns are also chronologically the third-oldest team in the NBA to have never won an NBA Championship while having played in the NBA Finals at least once. Rajakovic (pronounced RYE-ahk-oe-vich), 40, comes to the Suns after seven seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder organization, spending the last five as an assistant coach. Something went wrong. Mar 13, PHO (25-12) lost to IND, 111-122, 39. The 2021-22 Phoenix Suns season was their 54th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as well as their 29th season at the currently named Footprint Center, their first full season under that name after taking over the naming rights to the previously named Phoenix Suns Arena on July 16, 2021, during the 2021 NBA Ja Morant will be away from the Memphis Grizzlies for at least two games as the NBA investigates a social media post after he livestreamed himself holding what appeared to be a gun at a club. Riccardo Fois, now an assistant at Arizona, and Ben Strong are no longer on the Suns staff as both were in player development in Phoenix. Gates served as an assistant coach on Williams staff for each of their five seasons in New Orleans. Philadelphia announced the coaches who will join Doc Rivers this upcoming season. Gates joins the Suns following two seasons as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Washington is an interesting fit, because they are in win-now mode with some young pieces flanking the dynamic duo of Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook. A daily roundup of Phoenix Suns news from Bright Side of the Sun, By submitting your email, you agree to our, Suns add three coaches, promote Kevin Young to associate head coach, Recap: Phoenix Suns pull away from Chicago Bulls, 125-104 road win, Following an Okogie tone set, the Durant-Booker scoring tandem proves to be entirely too much of the Bulls, Suns vs. Mavericks on Sunday promises playoff-level atmosphere, No matter what the players say before tipoff, Open Thread: Suns at Bulls, Durant Part 2, Sign up for the Following a lengthy playing career in the NBA G League and overseas, Strong entered the coaching ranks as assistant coach with the mens basketball program at Huntingdon College for two seasons from 2016-2018. For his career, Blake averaged 6.5 points and 4.0 assists while shooting 38.3% from three-point range in 870 regular season games (347 starts) with Washington, Portland (three tenures), Milwaukee, Denver, the LA Clippers, the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State and Detroit from 2003-2016. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Suns assistant Willie Green is ready to be a head coach, but Boston is a bad fit . Langston Galloway joins Warriors on training camp deal, per report, Chris Paul teams with hoops hall of fame for HBCU double-header in Phoenix, Ja Morant says hell get help; video shows apparent gun. The Memphis forward sustained the injury Friday night during the 1st quarter of the Grizzlies 113-97 loss to the Nuggets. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. The Suns rapid rise will lead to some franchises trying to poach important pieces away wherever they can. Suns starting 5 crushes Bulls in 2nd straight win with Kevin Durant, Suns new dimensions flash in Kevin Durants debut, win over Hornets, Kevin Durant gives strong 1st impression to Suns with 23 points in win, Josh Okogie gets Suns 5th starter nod alongside debuting Kevin Durant. He joined the Phoenix staff at the same time as assistant Brian Randle. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. In assembling a staff, the goal was simple: identify high-character individuals with high-level experience who will work relentlessly to develop a culture of championship habits here in Phoenix. Blake played four seasons at the University of Maryland and guided the Terrapins to their only NCAA Championship as a junior in 2002 after the school made its first Final Four during his sophomore season in 2001. MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 20: Head coach Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns signals to his team during the first half in Game Six of the NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on July 20, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Michael Ruffin | The Official Website of The NBA Coaches Association MICHAEL RUFFIN PHOENIX SUNS ASSISTANT COACH In 2021, Michael Ruffin became an Assistant Coach for the Phoenix Suns. (Series Stats)Lost NBA Finals (2-4) versus Milwaukee Bucks Gates joins Williams staff after two seasons as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Grizzlies say their star guard will be away from the team for 'at least' the next 2 games. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. . SUNS Motivator: Phoenix Suns hiring Bryan Gates as an assistant coach after Willie Green departure Born in Anchorage, Alaska and the father of triplets, Gates has a special bond with Suns. Jan 11 @ WAS, PHO (7-4) lost to WAS, 107-128, 12. Scalzi first joined the organization as an assistant coach with the Tulsa 66ers, then the Thunders NBA G League affiliate, in 2013-14. Updated: . 2020-21 Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats Previous Season Next Season Record: 51-21, Finished 2nd in NBA Western Conference Coach: Monty Williams (51-21) Executive: James Jones PTS/G: 115.3 (7th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 109.5 (7th of 30) SRS: 5.67 (3rd of 30) Pace: 97.2 (26th of 30) Associate. Start your online subscription. Jan 22, PHO (8-6) lost to DEN, 126-130, 15. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. You may opt-out by. A member of the coaching staff on nine teams to qualify for the playoffs, Ayers was an assistant coach on Philadelphias Eastern Conference Championship team in 2001. Apr 10, PHO (37-15) beat WAS, 134-106, 53. After three years with Borac Cacak, he was named the head coach of the U20 and U18 teams of Red Star Belgrade and led Red Star to two Serbian championships in his eight years in Belgrade. Its a tremendous collection of bright basketball minds who are also outstanding people, and we are already hard at work.. His tenure with the Thunder featured a Western Conference Championship in 2012, plus three additional trips to the Western Conference Finals, including in 2016 when Williams was the teams associate head coach. Young, who was an assistant coach last season with Phoenix, was an assistant with the Phildelphia 76ers for four seasons prior to coming to the Valley. As the Suns look to RUN IT BACK and bring back much of the team that just went to the NBA Finals, familiarity seems to be a common theme as Williams surrounds himself with faces he has worked with before. The Suns have promoted Kevin Young to associate head coach. An NBA assistant coach since 2009, he also holds experience on the bench of the Sacramento Kings from 2016-2019, a first tenure with Minnesota in 2015-16, five seasons with the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans from 2010-2015 and a first tenure with Sacramento in 2009-10. He averaged 10.8 points and 4.6 assists over 867 career regular season games with Portland, Indiana, Toronto, New Orleans, Golden State, Cleveland, Brooklyn and New York. When he first moved to the United States, Fois played one season at Pepperdine in 2007-08 and was named to the WCC Commissioners Honor Roll. Are you a sports fan? [4] Cotton Fitzsimmons, Mike D'Antoni and Monty Williams are the only coaches to have won the NBA Coach of the Year Award with the Suns. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. 2023-24 >. The NBA Coaches Association (NBCA) is the association that represents basketball coaches in the National Basketball Association. He qualified for the playoffs seven times in his 12 seasons, averaging 5.2 points in 36 career playoff games (12 starts). Durant, a four-time scoring champion, now sets his sights on Hakeem Olajuwon in 12th place. Former Timberwolves player development coach Brian Randle is joining Monty Williams' staff with the Phoenix Suns as an assistant coach, . A native of Olbia, Italy, Fois played professionally in Serie B Basket, Italys third-tier professional league, from 2009-2012. The Pelicans also have the No. It's hard to place an exact figure since the NBA doesn't disclose coaching salaries. Ayers, 63, brings to the Suns over 35 years of coaching experience, including as an NBA and college head coach, and has most recently spent the past three seasons as a pro scout with the Brooklyn Nets. Def Rtg: 111.3 (9th of 30) Mar 30, PHO (32-14) beat ATL, 117-110, 47. Feb 1 @ DAL, PHO (11-8) beat DAL, 109-108, 20. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. "I think too many players in the NBA get too much pressure to lead," said Suns coach Monty Williams, who was an assistant in Oklahoma City in 2015-16, Durant's last year there. The Suns never have been coached by a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. He started as a player development coach under Suns head coach Monty Williams in New Orleans, spending time as an assistant coach and assistant strength and conditioning coach as well. He would replace Stan Van Gundy, who left the Pelicans after just one season. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. The Suns (26-7) currently have two players in health and safety protocols, Deandre Ayton and Jae Crowder, both of whom didn't play Monday. Does that change with two new stars? Paul Westphal has the highest all-time winning percentage with the Suns with a .685 percentage. His first coaching position in pro basketball was as head coach of the Shamrock Rovers in the Irish Super League for the 2006-07 season, which followed time as an assistant coach at Utah Valley University and Oxford College. The Bulldogs advanced at least as far as the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament in all five of Fois seasons, and he helped the program reach its first-ever Final Four in 2017, played in Arizona, when Gonzaga finished as national runner-up. 'Whatever seed we are, we're ready': Is there room for Cleveland among the East elite? newsletter, Phoenixs new twin towers have flashed greatness early, REPORT: Suns hiring Pistons executive Josh Bartelstein as new CEO, Suns JAM Session Podcast: Suns (35-29) @ Bulls Post Game Pod. Frazier entered the coaching world as a graduate manager for the mens basketball program at George Mason University in 2017-18. Before his coaching career, Ayers played at Miami and led the team to an upset of defending champion Marquette in the first round of the 1978 NCAA tournament. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images), (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images). Activity After years of hard work I have finally completed my mission of becoming a sports agent. Rajakovic received a basketball coaching degree from the Belgrade Basketball Academy in 2004 and a degree in sports management from Alfa BK University in Belgrade in 2006. The members of this staff have combined to win multiple NBA titles, conference titles and NCAA titles, bring significant coaching and playing experience at the NBA level, and recognize the attention to details that create the foundation for successful teams. The deal is expected to be finalized this week. Oops. Jan 20 @ HOU, PHO (8-5) beat HOU, 109-103, 14. [7] He was replaced by Lindsey Hunter halfway through the 201213 NBA season. [1] It is also the last season under Robert Sarver 's ownership group, as he was suspended from league-wide activities on September 13, 2022 . The Phoenix Suns' starting lineup with Kevin Durant was announced pregame on Wednesday, revealing the team's fifth starter. He averaged 10.8 points and 4.6 assists over 867 career regular season games with Portland, Indiana, Toronto, New Orleans, Golden State, Cleveland, Brooklyn and New York. Looking at 5 key stats heading into Saturday's clash between top East teams Philadelphia and Milwaukee. He helped Boston University to two NCAA tournament berths, including a school-record 25 wins in 1996-97, and helped Boston College reach the Elite Eight in 1994. Executive Director of Phoenix Suns Charities: 2018-2019: 5-United States: Blake Pallansch: Manager, The Source: . For part of his tenures with both the Thunder and Trail Blazers, Greer served as the advance scout for coaching staffs that included Williams. Blake played in all 138 games during his college career and remains Marylands all-time leader in games started (136) and assists (972) with 200 more assists than second place. Apr 15, PHO (40-15) beat SAC, 122-114, 56. Steve Scalzi is coming to the Suns after coaching seven years in Oklahoma City. The 6-4 shooting guard played his first seven seasons in Philadelphia, including in 2007-08 when he averaged a career-high 12.4 points for the 76ers. In two seasons as Tulsas head coach, Rajakovic recorded a 51-49 record and a trip to the G League semifinals in 2013. Green could be first in line to see his own work pay off in a massive way very soon. "I just don . With success comes more attention, which is exactly whats happening for the Phoenix Suns during their deep playoff run. Apr 12, PHO (38-15) beat HOU, 126-120, 55. He was a First Team All-Big East selection as a senior in 1987-88 when he averaged 20.5 points and 9.1 rebounds to lead the P.J. He has been a NBA assistant coach since 2009 and served on Williams staff for each of their five seasons together in New Orleans from 2010-2015. He has since been replaced by former Suns player Jeff Hornacek. [6] Gentry left the Phoenix Suns under mutual agreement to part ways on January 18, 2013. Feb 26 @ CHI, PHO (21-11) beat CHI, 106-97, 33. Greer helped the Sun Devils to consecutive 20-win seasons in his first two years in Tempe, including an NCAA tournament appearance in 2014. Dr. A's weekly risers and fallers: Jeremy Sochan, Christian Wood make the list, NBA Power Rankings: Kevin Durant's return could rock the West, Sources: Suns' Green front-runner for Pelicans job, S. Van Gundy: Zion was not behind Pelicans exit. Young cores who are in need of guidance with a true culture-building mentality. The Suns have also added Ryan Frazier as head video coordinator. (Series Stats)Won NBA Western Conference Semifinals (4-0) versus Denver Nuggets On April 23, 2019, the organization parted ways with head coach Igor Kokoshov after one season - 82 total games coached - with the team. Jan 18 @ MEM, PHO (7-5) lost to MEM, 104-108, 13. The Dallas Mavericks have had the Phoenix Suns' number since the tail-end of their playoff series. The new assistant in Phoenix had a nine-year playing career from 1999-2009, spending time on the Bulls, 76ers, Jazz, Wizards, Bucks and the Blazers. All of the franchises Green has interviewed with were all in the same position as Phoenix two seasons ago. Kevin Durant returned from a 20-game absence for his Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday and he looked like himself against the Charlotte Hornets. Young and Williams were both assistants in Philadelphia under Brett Brown. Last month, Phoenix announced the additions of Bryan Gates,Jarrett Jack and Steve Scalzi, all of which have ties to Williams. LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 03: New Orleans Pelicans assistant Michael Ruffin before the New Orleans Pelicans vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA basketball game on January 03, 2019, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Net Rtg: +5.9 (3rd of 30), Preseason Odds: Brooks will serve his 1-game suspension Sunday when the Grizzlies visit the Clippers. pay top-dollar for . He served as a player development coach for the Thunder the past two seasons, which followed five seasons as director of analysis and opposition scouting from 2014-2019, including when Williams was the teams associate head coach in 2015-16. The Pelicans went 31-41 in 2020-21, a disappointing result after the season started with playoff aspirations. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Mike D'Antoni coached the Phoenix Suns the 20032008, to a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2005 and 2006. The 2022-23 Phoenix Suns season is their 55th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as well as their 30th season at the Footprint Center. Blake, 39, comes to Phoenix after spending the last two seasons working for the Portland Trail Blazers. On August 7, 2021, Young was promoted to the role of associate head coach for the Suns. He then spentsix years (2014-20) in New Orleans as he joined the franchise working in player development for Williams. Carlesimo-coached Pirates to their first-ever NCAA tournament berth. Head coach: Monty Williams. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Young, considered a good coach and even better person, coached the offense in Philly with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. Apr 19 @ MIL, PHO (41-16) beat MIL, 128-127, 58. Phoenix Suns assistant coach Willie Green is reportedly among a list of candidates for the Orlando Magic's head coach vacancy following Steve Clifford's departure from the organization. Jan 27, PHO (8-8) lost to OKC, 97-102, 18. Fois was an assistant coach for Italys national team at FIBA EuroBasket 2017, serving on the staff of Ettore Messina, one of the best European basketball coaches of all time and currently an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs. Odds & lines subject to change. Or write about sports? Bryant played 15 total NBA seasons from 1988-2003 with Portland, Houston, Phoenix, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, San Antonio, Philadelphia, Denver and Boston, averaging 5.4 points on 50.0% shooting and 3.8 rebounds in 797 regular season games, and also appeared in 79 playoff games with trips to the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992 as a member of the Trail Blazers. He was a member of Italys U16 National Team at the 2003 FIBA Europe U16 Championship in Madrid, and was a teammate of NBA veterans Danilo Gallinari and Gigi Datome in Italys junior national team program. Apr 30, PHO (45-18) beat UTA, 121-100, 64. Ja Morant will be away from the Memphis Grizzlies for at least two games as the NBA investigates a social media post after he livestreamed himself holding what appeared to be a gun at a club. [5] Alvin Gentry was named head coach after Terry Porter was dismissed by the Suns after 51 games in 2008. The announcement was made this morning by Williams on the Suns podcast, The Outlet, which can be viewed here. Young served as an assistant coach in his first season with the Suns in 2020-21 after four seasons as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers. 1 regional seeds in the NCAA tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16 in 1991 and the Elite Eight in 1992. Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the 202122season. The start of the Kevin Durant era mid-season with the Phoenix Suns will be some brilliance mixed with some stagnation. Phoenix didn't have a lottery pick in the 2021 . In 2010-11, Green was a member of Williams first team as a head coach, averaging 8.7 points while appearing in 77 games to help New Orleans win 46 games and earn a playoff berth. 38.5, Arena: < 2021-22. During educational tours of college basketball programs in the U.S., Rajakovic spent time attending practices and meeting with Lute Olson at the University of Arizona in 2003 and Mike Krzyzewski at Duke University in 2007. 115.3 (7th of 30) He served as a player development coach and director of analysis and opposition scouting, including when Williams was the teams associate head coach in 2015-16. The 6-3 point guard was a member of nine teams to qualify for the playoffs, averaging 4.6 points and 2.5 assists in 53 career postseason games (13 starts).