Suns Players Reportedly Endorsing Assistant Coach to Replace Monty Williams
It seems that most Phoenix Suns’ players have a preference on who they want to be the team's next head coach.
“The Suns also have a coaching search to conduct after the firing of Monty Williams,” Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes wrote. “Kevin Young, an associate head coach under Williams, will interview with the Suns as early as next week, sources say. Young appears to have the backing of many Suns' players.”
Young has been with the Suns since 2020, initially starting off as an assistant and transitioning to the associate head coach behind Monty Williams, who was fired last week.
While Young does not have any NBA head coaching experience, his familiarity with most of the roster will help the team hit the ground running once the season begins. Considering he was mentored by Williams, Phoenix might not have to adjust to massive changes in routine or philosophy.
It's especially important for superstars like Devin Booker and Kevin Durant to be on the same page with their head coaches. The fact that players are backing him shows what kind of respect he demands in the locker room.
In the past we have seen teams hire coaches that were already working in the organization, including the Cleveland Cavaliers with Ty Lue and the Toronto Raptors with Nick Nurse. After hiring these two coaches saw both the Cavaliers and Raptors go on to win championships, so it's not so far-fetched to think that Phoenix could do the same with Young.
Young has coached since 2006 at the collegiate level, G-league and in the NBA so he has a ton of experience mentoring different types of players.
If Haynes’ report is indeed true, it will be interesting to see if Young changes the culture in Phoenix or just follows in Williams’ footsteps.
The Suns are expected to pursue other assistant coaches such as Sacramento’s Jordi Fernandez, Milwaukee’s Charles Lee and Memphis’ Darko Rajakovic.
