Best Replacements For Mike D’Antoni
While Steve Nash expects Mike D’Antoni to return as the coach of the Suns next season most people realize he is all but out the door to either Chicago or New York. With that in mind we decided it was time to compile a list of possible candidates for the Suns head coaching job. Some are names that could possibly get the job done, others could keep the ship afloat and some are just plain out there. Only one coach though made our list who could effectively coach this team to a championship in 2009 (with a little help). Check out our list and add your own candidates in the comment section:
Big Name Possible Replacements:
Avery Johnson
Head Coaching Jobs: Dallas (2 Full Seasons)
Record: 194-70 (Regular season) 23-24 (Playoffs)
Current Job: Unemployed
NBA Championships As Head Coach: 0
Basketball Experience Outside of Coaching: Played in the NBA from 1988 to 2004. Over his career he played for 6 different NBA teams including the Seattle, Golden State, San Antonio, Denver and Houston. During the 1998-99 season Johnson won a championship as a member of the San Antonio Spurs.
Jeff Van Gundy
Head Coaching Jobs: New York, Houston
Record: 430-318 (Regular Season) 44-44 (Playoffs)
Current Job: TV Analyst
NBA Championships As Head Coach: 0
Biggest Accomplishment As Head Coach: Hanging on to Alonzo Morning’s leg during brawl and perfecting the leagues worst comb over.
Doug Collins
Head Coaching Jobs: Chicago, Detroit, Washington
Record: 332-287 (Regular Season) 15-23 (Playoffs)
Current Job: TV Analyst
NBA Championships As Head Coach: 0
Basketball Experience Outside of Coaching: Played in the NBA from 1973-1981 for Philadelphia. Collins was an all star from 1976-79.
Biggest Accomplishment As Head Coach: He is the only coach that couldn’t win with Michael Jordan (He had chances with two different teams). Maybe Phil Jackson can let him borrow a ring or two.
Kurt Rambis
Head Coaching Jobs: Los Angeles Lakers (Interim Head Coach)
Record: 24-13 (Regular Season) 3-5(Playoffs)
Current Job: Assistant Coach, Los Angeles Lakers
NBA Championships As Head Coach: 0 (3 as Lakers assistant under Phil Jackson)
Basketball Experience Outside of Coaching: Played in the NBA from 1981-1995 with Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, Phoenix and Sacramento. He won championships in 4 different seasons with the Lakers and was known for his toughness on the defensive end of the court.
Biggest Accomplishment As Head Coach: Wearing really thick glasses and keeping the seat warm for Jeanie Buss’ Boyfriend Colonel Sanders Phil Jackson.
Names You’ve Heard of:
Paul Westhead
Head Coaching Jobs:Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago, Denver (Phoenix Mercury)
Record: 183-224 (Regular Season) 13-6 (Playoffs)
Current Job: Assistant Coach, Seattle (Are they in Oklahoma City yet) Sonics
NBA Championships As Head Coach: 1 (1 As WNBA Coach)
Biggest Accomplishment As A Head Coach: In his rookie year as a head coach Westhead won the NBA championship (Not hard to do when you have Kareem Abdul-jabbar, the league MVP, and a young Magic Johnson.)
Alvin Gentry
Head Coaching Jobs: Miami, Detroit, Los Angeles Clippers
Record: 177-226 (Regular Season) 2-3 (Playoffs)
Current Job: Assistant Coach, Phoenix Suns
NBA Championships As Head Coach: 0
Biggest Accomplishment As Head Coach: Learning how to finish sub .500 in 6 of his 7 NBA seasons.
Paul Westphal
Head Coaching Jobs: Phoenix, Seattle
Record: 267-159 (Regular Season) 27-22 (Playoffs)
Current Job: Unemployed
NBA Championships As Head Coach: 0
Basketball Experience Outside of Coaching: Played in the NBA from 1972-1984 with Boston, Phoenix, Seattle and New York. He won two NBA championships as a player with the Boston Celtics.
Biggest Accomplishment As Head Coach: Keeping Charles Barkley out of the bars long enough to make it to the 1993 NBA Finals and running the best country club for players.
Hey These Guys Might Be Fun (If you have no plan of winning an NBA championship):
Dan Majerle
Head Coaching Jobs: Same Number As You
Record: 0-0 (Hasn’t been a coach in the playoffs so doesn’t know how to fail right?)
Current Job: Broadcaster and Bar Owner
NBA Championships As Head Coach: 0
Basketball Experience: Played in the NBA from 1988-2002 with Phoenix, Cleveland and Miami. Was known as “Thunder Dan” and for his propensity for chucking up 3 pointers. Now spends his time yelling “Holl-a” and making shots from half court.
Eddie Johnson
Head Coaching Jobs: Same As Phoenix Suns NBA Titles
Record: 0-0 (Hey he’s .500 it’s better than Alvin Gentry)
Current Job: Broadcaster, Motivational Speaker and Personal Basketball Trainer (Maybe he can help Shaq with his free throws)
NBA Championships As Head Coach: 0
Basketball Experience: Played in the NBA from 1981-1999 with Kansas City/Sacramento, Phoenix, Seattle, Charlotte, Indiana and Houston. Known most for his shooting.
Jerry Colangelo
Head Coaching Jobs: Phoenix
Record: 59-59 (Regular Season) 3-4 (Playoffs)
Current Job: Head of USA Basketball
NBA Championships As Head Coach: 0
Basketball Experience: Helped run the Bulls and was general manager/general managing partner of the Phoenix Suns. Is in the pro basketball Hall of Fame.
Probably The Best Man For The Job:
Mike D’Antoni
Head Coaching Jobs: Denver, Phoenix (Soon to be Chicago or New York)
Record: 212-145 (Regular Season) 25-21 (Playoffs)
NBA Championships As Head Coach: 0
Basketball Experience: Played in the NBA from 1973-1977 for Kansas City/Sacramento. His highest point total in the NBA was 4.8 ppg. Found most success playing basketball in Italy.
Biggest Accomplishment As A Head Coach: Learning how to find new and painful ways to lose to the Spurs in the Playoffs while only playing 8 guys.
The bottom line for the Suns is that these are the “best of the best” when it comes to coaching candidates. The biggest name coach out there was Larry Brown and he has just signed on to coach the Charlotte Bobcats (Good luck with that one Larry). There is a good chance that this will be a lesson of “the grass isn’t always greener on the other side” for Steve Kerr.
Join the discussion at The Locker Room Forum. Arizona Sports 24/7.
Posted by Greg Esposito
Co-founder of AzSportsHub.com. Greg provides the sometimes serious, sometimes sarcastic and always interesting takes on Arizona sports (at least we hope). Whether it’s on In The Zona with Matt or in his column Greg reports, rants and raves about whatever is in the news for Arizona Sports.
http://www.azsportshub.com/author/espo
(2 votes, avg: 5 out of 5)
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