Utah Jazz rumors: Igor Kokoskov in play for Phoenix Suns job
By Ryan Aston
Utah Jazz assistant coach Igor Kokoskov could be in play for the Phoenix Suns head coaching job this summer.
Although the Utah Jazz have made incredible progress over the last three years, success often comes with a down side. Specifically, other teams covet what you have and will do what they can to take it. Such was the case when Gordon Hayward and George Hill were snatched up last summer.
Yet another domino could fall once the team completes its 2017-18 campaign. Namely, that of assistant coach Igor Kokoskov.
According to the New York Times’ Marc Stein, Kokoskov could be at the top of the list for the Phoenix Suns’ head coaching job. The Suns relieved former Jazzman Earl Watson of his coaching duties earlier this season.
Writes Stein —
"I would also anticipate that Phoenix and other teams take a serious look at the former Suns assistant coach Igor Kokoskov."
Kokoskov’s coaching profile has only grown since he joined the Jazz in 2015. In addition to helping Quin Snyder to turn things around in Jazzland, he led a seemingly middling Slovenian national team to the EuroBasket title after a 9-0 run last year.
The Slovenians also went undefeated during qualification in 2016.
In December of that year, Kokoskov directed the Jazz to a 107-101 win over the Los Angeles Lakers when Snyder was out with an illness.
More recently, the 46-year-old leaned put his player development skills to work in helping Ricky Rubio turn his season around after some early struggles. Rubio has been one of the better point guards in the league over the last several weeks.
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Kokoskov also counts a tenure with the Suns among his previous NBA stops. He spent five years with the club from 2008-13 as an assistant under head coaches Terry Porter, Alvin Gentry and Lindsey Hunter, for whom he served as something of an unofficial “offensive coordinator.”
Whether or not Kokoskov ends up in Phoenix remains to be seen, but the day in which someone takes him from Utah to led their team is probably inevitable.
When that day comes, it will undoubtedly be another major loss for the Jazz organization.