The Suns fired coach Igor Kokoskov after just one season with the team.
"After extensive evaluation, I determined it is best to move in a different direction with our head coaching position," Suns general manager James Jones said in a team statement issued late Monday night. "I want to thank Igor for his work this past season and wish him the best with his future endeavors."
The decision has been criticized by many, but one voice prominently stood out. Former NBA player Matt Barnes, who played one season with the Suns from 2008-09, voiced his thoughts on social media shortly after the decision was made official. Barnes had some strong criticism toward the team's owner, Robert Sarver.
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Coaching isn’t the problem w the @Suns the owner is! Sarver is the worst owner in the NBA.. Do that great city of phnx a solid & sell the team, they deserve a winner! You’re wasting Devin Bookers career
— Matt Barnes (@Matt_Barnes22) April 23, 2019
Barnes makes a great point with his last thought there.
Devin Booker is only 22 years old, and he's now about to have his fifth head coach in the NBA (Jeff Hornacek, Earl Watson, Jay Triano, Kokoskov). How is any young superstar supposed to grow while he's constantly having to adjust to new management and coaching?
But while Barnes isn't alone in his thoughts about Sarver, it's worth noting these two have a history. In 2015 Barnes bluntly said about the Suns owner, "We don't like each other. He didn't like me when I was there and I didn't like him when I was there, so it is what it is."
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In 2015, Barnes was fined $25,000 by the NBA for using "inappropriate language to a fan." However, Barnes claimed it wasn't a "fan" he was talking to, but rather Sarver. Barnes said Sarver was baiting him by cursing at him from the sidelines, so Barnes responded and ended up paying the price.
Several others, however, have pointed out how Sarver is ruining the Suns with his decisions.
Seems like a good time to remind everyone that Igor Kokoskov was Luka Doncic's Slovenia coach and the Suns had the top pick in the draft and passed on Doncic, the absolute no-brainer No. 1 prospect, because Robert Sarver had ties to the University of Arizona.
— Jeff Siegel (@jgsiegel) April 23, 2019
And now Igor is out
This Suns news should be shocking, yet it's not because this is Robert Sarver we're talking about here. Looking forward to discussing the #BrightFutureSuns on Tuesday's @ringer NBA Show with @ChrisVernonShow. https://t.co/dY2mOdNhIF
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) April 23, 2019
The Suns stated their search for a new coach begins immediately.
