PHOENIX, Arizona -- The Phoenix Suns selected former Jackson State standout Lindsey Hunter to be the interim coach for the second half of the season.
After former
four-year coach Alvin Gentry's departure Friday morning, Suns General Manager
Lance Blanks led the decision on picking an internal replacement and chose
Hunter over Suns veteran assistant coaches Elston Turner, Dan Majerle and Igor
Kokoskov.
The former first round pick also played at Alcorn State during the 1988-89 season where he was named to the All-SWAC Freshmen Team. He would eventually transfer to JSU and went to earn the conference Player of the Year award while leading the league in scoring with 27.6 ppg. his senior year.
Hunter, 42, joined the Suns last season as a scout and was named the head of a new player development unit in the summer. Hunter has sat in the second row behind the Suns' coaching staff during most games but had not coached since ending his 17-year NBA playing career in 2010. Hunter was a part of 12 playoff teams and two championships (the 2001-02 Lakers and the 2003-04 Pistons).
Hunter will ran his first practice Sunday in preparation for the team's next game Wednesday at Sacramento. Hunter's hire signals that the Suns intend to use more of their youth, as he has been a proponent of first-round draft choice Kendall Marshall. At 13-28, the Suns are in last place in the Western Conference and assumedly out of the playoff race.
The former first round pick also played at Alcorn State during the 1988-89 season where he was named to the All-SWAC Freshmen Team. He would eventually transfer to JSU and went to earn the conference Player of the Year award while leading the league in scoring with 27.6 ppg. his senior year.
Hunter, 42, joined the Suns last season as a scout and was named the head of a new player development unit in the summer. Hunter has sat in the second row behind the Suns' coaching staff during most games but had not coached since ending his 17-year NBA playing career in 2010. Hunter was a part of 12 playoff teams and two championships (the 2001-02 Lakers and the 2003-04 Pistons).
Hunter will ran his first practice Sunday in preparation for the team's next game Wednesday at Sacramento. Hunter's hire signals that the Suns intend to use more of their youth, as he has been a proponent of first-round draft choice Kendall Marshall. At 13-28, the Suns are in last place in the Western Conference and assumedly out of the playoff race.
COURTESY JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Hunter Charged With Giving Suns a Jolt
PHOENIX, Arizona -- When Lindsey Hunter went to bed last night, he was the head of player development with the Suns. When he woke up this morning, he was the franchise’s new head coach.
After the organization and former Suns Head Coach Alvin Gentry parted ways Friday morning, Phoenix’s front office spent the next 48 hours talking with the players and interviewing internal candidates, which were comprised of Hunter and Suns assistant coaches Elston Turner and Igor Kokoskov. On Sunday morning, about an hour before practice, Hunter received word that the job was his.
“The organization needed a jolt,” Suns General Manager Lance Blanks said. “We needed something that would shock the systems of us and the players. And the risk trumps safety in this business, and we felt this was the right person to take a risk on.”
A 17-year NBA veteran as a player, Hunter retired following the 2009-10 season after a successful career with the Pistons, Bucks, Lakers, Raptors and Bulls. During his career, Hunter won two NBA Championships, one with Lakers during the 2000-01 season and one with the Pistons during the 2003-04 season.
Coming exactly at the season’s midpoint, Hunter will be charged with leading the team for the remaining 41 games of the season. After the conclusion of the season, the Suns front office will re-open the search for the organization’s next head coach.
READ MORE
No comments:
Post a Comment