Suns Make Kokoskov NBA's First European-born Head Coach

The Phoenix Suns have agreed terms with Utah Jazz assistant Igor Kokoskov that will make the Serbian the first NBA head coach born and raised outside North America, the Suns said Wednesday.

Los Angeles, May 3 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd May, 2018 ) :The Phoenix Suns have agreed terms with Utah Jazz assistant Igor Kokoskov that will make the Serbian the first NBA head coach born and raised outside North America, the Suns said Wednesday.

Kokoskov will take the helm at Phoenix when the Jazz season concludes. Utah, who defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs, are in the midst of a Western Conference second-round series against the Houston Rockets.

"Igor has been a pioneer throughout his basketball career and he brings a wealth of high level coaching experience to our club," Suns general manager Ryan McDonough said in a statement.

"He was one of the first non-American born assistant coaches at both the NCAA and NBA levels and his most recent head coaching stint includes leading the Slovenian national team to the 2017 EuroBasket title, which was the first European title in the history of the country.

"Igor's teams have always had a player development focus, a creative style of play and a track record of success." Kokoskov, 46, will be the 19th head coach in franchise history.