The NBA playoffs are still in full swing, but 26 teams are already in the middle of preparations for the new season. Five teams have already hired a new head coach, other positions are still open. SPOX introduces the new trainers and explains what they stand for and what to expect for the next season.
Kokoskov is not a completely new face in the NBA and certainly not in Phoenix. The Serb joined the NBA in 2000 and was the first non-American assistant coach to start his career with the Los Angeles Clippers. Under Head Coach Alvin Gentry he trained for three years in the City of Angels before moving to Detroit.
With the 2004 pistons around Chauncey Billups and the Wallace brothers, Kokoskov won his first and only championship alongside Larry Brown. In addition to further stations in Cleveland, Orlando and most recently Utah, the 46-year-old also coached the Suns as an assistant from 2008 to 2013 – again under Gentry.
At the same time, he was head coach of the Georgian national team for seven years and later also head of the Slovenian team around Goran Dragic and Luka Doncic, with whom he sensationally became European champion in 2017.
Kokoskov is often seen as a Guard whisperer who always gets the most out of his point guards. He has had good relationships with players such as Steve Nash, Billups, George Hill and most recently Dragic and Doncic for the Slovenian national team.
In contrast to the brittle Suns basketball of recent years, Kokoskov stands for fast, fluid, run-and-gun style basketball. His halfcourt sets are based on constant movement with many high pick-and-rolls and cuts to the basket, which let the ball handler take the best possible throw – no matter whether by pull-up after the screen or by drive to the basket.
When it comes to the coaching model, the Serbian wants to follow the San Antonio Spurs. This means that apart from the assistant coach who scoutes the opponent, all other assistants should be involved in the individual team coaching. “No one is excluded,” Kokoskov told The Arizona Republic. “If you’re the second or third assistant, it’s also your job to coach the team and make everyone feel comfortable.”
With Kokoskov, the Suns have found an international and NBA-experienced head coach who will still have to find his way into the new position. But this is exactly what he can do step by step with the very young team of the Suns (second youngest team in the league, 24 years on average).
In Phoenix nobody expects big quantum leaps, but a continuous, future-oriented rebuild around Devin Booker, Josh Jackson and the upcoming No.1 pick. Booker and Jackson could also benefit greatly from the Serbian’s way of playing, as they will get more free throws and thus get into their rhythm better in the future.
It is also interesting to note that Kokoskov has already worked with the possible No.1 pick Luka Doncic in the national team. Not only does he know the strengths and weaknesses of the super talent like no other, he would also offer Doncic a well-known system in which the 19-year-old could quickly find his way around.
Page 1: Igor Kokoskov – Phoenix Suns
Page 2: Mike Budenholzer – Milwaukee Bucks
Page 3: James Borrego – Charlotte Hornets
Page 4: David Fizdale – New York Knicks
Page 5: Lloyd Pierce – Atlanta Hawks