Josh Jackson has high praise for former Utah Jazz asst. coach Igor Kokoskov

The 2018-19 NBA season is just getting underway, but thus far Josh Jackson appears to be a big fan of former Utah Jazz assistant coach Igor Kokoskov.

The Utah Jazz were focused on continuity this offseason, and they did an excellent job of keeping hold of their free agents. Despite some uncertainty, Derrick Favors, Dante Exum and Raul Neto all agreed to come back to Utah on contracts that were fair for both the players and the team.

That cohesion should play a large part in Utah’s success in 2018-19. However, unfortunately for them, there’s one person that held a key role for the Jazz that won’t be returning this upcoming season. No, I’m not referring to Jonas Jerebko or David Stockton, the lone players Utah lost (though I wish them both well), but rather to former assistant coach Igor Kokoskov.

Kokoskov was named the head coach of the Phoenix Suns during last year’s playoffs, and began his duties once the Jazz were eliminated from postseason contention.

There’s no denying that Igor’s brilliant basketball mind went a long way in helping Quin Snyder and Co. roll out a squad that was both dominant defensively and difficult to stop offensively. He had a good relationship with the players in Salt Lake City, and while they’re undoubtedly happy to see him land a head coaching gig, he’ll most certainly be missed.

But it appears that the favor he gained in Utah was no fluke, as he’s already receiving high praise in Phoenix. In a recent piece from The Undefeated featuring the Suns’ high-potential young player Josh Jackson, he spoke about his fresh new look (he cut his long hair to better cope with the blazing Phoenix weather), his summer and his new squad.

A large part of the new-look Suns will obviously be recently-hired head coach Igor Kokoskov, who Jackson had some great things to say about–

"Igor is a great teacher as well. He’s a player’s coach like Steve Kerr. A lot of guys say that about him. He’s a guy who is not just going to direct you or tell you to do things a certain way. He’ll explain it to you, and he’s also a guy who’s going to be open to hear what you have to say. He’s open to your ideas. And you get that type of freedom and leeway when you’ve got players who know what they’re doing, obviously. So the more we get better and learn that, the more freedom we have."

Especially in today’s league where star players like Kawhi Leonard or Jimmy Butler essentially have the power to ask out of an organization if things aren’t to their liking, it’s becoming increasingly important to have a ‘player’s coach’ that not only knows how to win, but can relate to and empathize with the players. Apparently in his short time in Phoenix, Kokoskov is doing a great job of accomplishing just that.

The Suns have a lot of great talent, but haven’t really been able to put it together just yet. With the likes of Josh Jackson, Devin Booker and recently drafted Deandre Ayton, they definitely have the pieces in place to be a force at some point down the road. Now the challenge will be for Igor to put the pieces together and allow them to thrive.

Time will tell if he’s able to do so, but if Jackson is to be believed, it would appear that he’s already off to a great start.

The Utah Jazz face off against the Phoenix Suns four times this season – in Phoenix on March 13th and April 3rd, and in Salt Lake City on February 6th and March 25th. Though the Suns have been bottom-dwellers the past few years, don’t be surprised if Igor’s able to help them begin turning things around in a big way. I don’t suspect they’ll be playoff challengers just yet, but expect them to be much more competitive this time around.

That may especially be true when Kokoskov’s squad takes on his old team. Hopefully the Suns won’t become a lower-tier team that serves as Utah’s Achilles heel, much like the Atlanta Hawks seemed to be last year.

Regardless of whether or not that turns out to be the case, it’s great to see Igor Kokoskov earning some early respect from his current roster. I truly wish him the best in his endeavors because, as they say, ‘Once a Jazzman, always a Jazzman.’

The only exception to my well-wishing towards him will be when he’s going up against his former squad composed of Quin Snyder, Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert and Co.