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Alex Kirschenbaum is a Newsweek reporter overlaying sports activities and leisure content material based mostly in Los Angeles. He has in-depth data of all issues basketball, notably the NBA and WNBA. Alex joined Newsweek in 2024 and likewise has written for Sports activities Illustrated, Males’s Journal, Hoops Rumors, Trailers From Hell, Memphis Grizzlies fan website Grizzly Bear Blues, Chicago Bulls fan websites Weblog-A-Bull and Pippen Ain’t Straightforward, amongst others. He’s a graduate of Northwestern College. You will get in contact with Alex by emailing a.kirschenbaum@newsweek.com. Languages: English.

Alex Kirschenbaum

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The Phoenix Suns are at present on the lookout for their fourth head coach in as many seasons below workforce majority proprietor Mat Ishbia, sources inform John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports activities 98.7 FM Phoenix.

Gambadoro initially reported that Miami Warmth assistant coach Chris Quinn and Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coaches Johnnie Bryant and Jordan Ott had all made the reduce.

Later, Gambadoro revealed that Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Sean Sweeney is slated to interview for the gig on Wednesday, which, when correlated with Gambadoro’s earlier reporting, means that Sweeney is the fourth contender.

A number of sources inform Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic, nonetheless, that Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori can also be nonetheless a candidate. Rankin lists three names that overlap with Gambadoro’s reporting: Quinn, Ott and Sweeney.

Extra Phoenix Suns Information: Kevin Durant Could Have Fueled Commerce Rumors With Newest Feedback

Phoenix initially had been between 15 and 20 contenders for the job. This previous weekend, the membership concluded Zoom interviews with a gaggle of 9 finalists, based on Gambadoro.

The Suns have undergone many a metamorphosis since billionaire mortgage lender Ishbia bought a 57 % controlling stake within the franchise — and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury — largely from disgraced former proprietor Robert Sarver in Feb. 2023.

When Ishbia bought the membership, it had just lately acquired 15-time All-Star energy ahead Kevin Durant, pairing him with 12-time All-Star level guard Chris Paul and four-time All-Star taking pictures guard Devin Booker, plus athletic heart Deandre Ayton, in an effort to return to the NBA Finals following a disappointing second-round upset the earlier season.

As a substitute, Phoenix was ousted within the second spherical as soon as once more, this time by the eventual champion Denver Nuggets.

The Suns fired 2022 Coach of the Yr Monty Williams that summer season, changing him with Frank Vogel — who had simply gained a title with the Los Angeles Lakers two years prior. Paul and Ayton have been traded away within the offseason, and the Suns made a questionable commerce for dear, oft-hurt former All-Star guard Bradley Beal.

This reconfigured Suns membership below Vogel was stable, however did not fairly set the world on fireplace as all three stars handled well being points. Vogel, a defense-first coach, was seen as an ungainly match with the workforce’s offense-first stars.

Extra Phoenix Suns Information: Suns Make Dramatic Entrance Workplace Change Following Disappointing 2024-25 Season

Phoenix went 49-33 in 2023-24 and completed with the Western Convention’s No. 6 seed, however obtained destroyed in a four-game first spherical playoff sweep by the West Finals-bound Minnesota Timberwolves that spring.

Ishbia subsequently canned Vogel within the offseason, bringing in 2019 Coach of the Yr and 2021 champion ex-Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer for 2024-25. This previous common season was an unmitigated catastrophe. Regardless of Durant and Booker being comparatively wholesome, the Suns had completely no on-court chemistry collectively.

Phoenix went 36-46 and missed the postseason solely. Budenholzer was given the boot.

All these finalists are unproven as head coaches, however are well-respected as longtime assistants. What Phoenix desires to do with the contracts of Durant and Beal going ahead stays to be seen, but it surely’s fairly attainable the Suns roster will look very totally different by the point this new coach truly begins overseeing common season video games.

Extra Phoenix Suns Information:

Suns Reportedly Have Large Roster Precedence This Offseason

Suns’ Kevin Durant Reportedly Eyeing Commerce to Western Convention Squad

For extra NBA information and rumors, head on over to Newsweek Sports activities.

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