Mat Ishbia’s ‘incredible aggression’ may influence how coaching candidates view Phoenix Suns

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The Phoenix Suns have made two major moves since Mat Ishbia officially became team owner in February with the latest being the firing of Monty Williams this month.

Ishbia wasn’t 12 hours into his position when Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks and a pick swap were dealt to Brooklyn for superstar Kevin Durant and T.J. Warren.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst sees those two actions under Ishbia as things head coaching candidates will take into consideration when looking at the Suns vacancy.

“I think Mat Ishbia in Phoenix is potentially a great NBA owner. However, there is an uncertainty there,” Windhorst said Thursday morning on ESPN’s First Take.

“He has not been at the job long and he has shown incredible aggression since he’s been in that position. No. 1 with the Durant trade and moving away from Monty Williams, who has a great track record. When you see something like that, you’re a little uncertain. Maybe a different conversation about Ishbia in a couple of years when you have more of a track record.”

Phoenix Suns majority owner Mat Ishbia watches his team warm up before the Western Conference semifinals against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena in Denver on May 9, 2023.

Williams posted a 194-115 coaching record in four seasons with the Suns, who went to the 2021 finals and won a franchise-record 64 games last season, but they were 0-3 in elimination playoffs games under him, losing to Dallas last season and Denver this season at home by a combined 58 points.

Nick Nurse, Frank Vogel, Doc Rivers, Sacramento Kings assistant Jordi Fernandez and Suns associate head coach Kevin Young are the finalists for the position, sources confirmed to The Arizona Republic this week.

More: Nick Nurse, Doc Rivers, assistant Kevin Young among Phoenix Suns head coach finalists

Nurse (Raptors, 2019), Vogel (Lakers, 2020) and Rivers (Celtics, 2008) have all coached teams to NBA championships. The Lakers fired Vogel after the 2021-22 season in which they finished 33-49.

The Suns eliminated the Lakers in the first round of the 2021 playoffs in six games.

The Raptors and Nurse parted ways after Toronto…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/mat-ishbias-incredible-aggression-may-205445344.html?src=rss

Author : AZCentral | The Arizona Republic

Publish date : 2023-05-25 20:54:45

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