Igor Kokosvo served as an assistant to Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder from 2015 to 2018, so when the Serbian coach was fired by the Phoenix Suns after just one year on the job, Snyder can't help but feel sad.
Before his team played the Houston Rockets in Game 5, Snyder opened up about the firing and admitted that it was personal for him considering his relationship with Kokoskov.
However, the Jazz coach remains optimistic about Kokoskov's chances of becoming a head coach of another team, emphasizing that he knows “what a quality coach” Igor is.
Quin, on Igor Kokoskov being fired by the Suns: “I know what a quality coach he is … and there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll have future opportunities. … It’s always unfortunate when you see a colleague let go; and with Igor, it’s much more personal than that for me.” pic.twitter.com/rnpT9Dvw7h
— Eric Walden (@tribjazz) April 24, 2019
Igor Kokoskov was given an odd roster to work with in his first season as an NBA head coach. With a mishmash of young players such as Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, Josh Jackson and De’Anthony Melton, as well as veterans like Tyson Chandler, Ryan Anderson and Trevor Ariza, it was never clear what direction Phoenix was headed to.
In a recent press conference to address Kokoskov's firing, Suns interim GM James Jones admits that the sacking of Igor is not about their poor record, citing specific issues and the team's need to move to a new direction.
With Kokoskov's experience, it seems likely that Quin Snyder prediction will come true. However, only time will tell where Kokoskov’s next coaching gig will be.
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