Report: Kokoskov a Grizzlies candidate
The name of a candidate with NBA head coaching experience finally has surfaced publicly in the Grizzlies' quest to replace J.B. Bickerstaff.
That is, if you count one season with the Phoenix Suns that lacked promise before it ever began.
Igor Kokoskov interviewed for the Grizzlies' job recently, according to an ESPN report, after his only season in Phoenix ended with a pink slip.
The Suns fired Kokoskov on April 22 after he led Phoenix to a Western Conference-worst 19-63 record.
Kokoskov is the fourth known candidate to receive consideration for the Memphis job, joining Jazz assistant Alex Jensen, Warriors assistant Jarron Collins and Euroleague coach Sarunas Jasikevicius as the coaches whose names have been reportedly connected to the opening.
League sources have described the Grizzlies' coaching search as slow-moving. But with the NBA lottery and draft combine complete, the franchise's revamped front office is expected to accelerate its search this week.
The Grizzlies fired Bickerstaff on April 11, the day after their season ended with a 33-49 record.
Bickerstaff reportedly is set to join John Beilein's staff in Cleveland as associate head coach.
Like Bickerstaff, Kokoskov made it through just one season of his first head coaching job after finally breaking
through following years as an NBA assistant.
As the first Europeanborn-and-raised head coach in NBA history, Kokoskov inherited a young Suns team coming off three straight seasons with win totals in the 20s.
But he failed to improve a team attempting to build around a young core of Devin Booker and 2018 first overall pick Deandre Ayton.
Phoenix lost 17 straight games from Jan. 15 through Feb. 23 before closing the season by winning eight of its final 21 games.
“Personally, I am not really pleased and satisfied with our season," Kokoskov told reporters after the season. "I have high expectations for myself. … This is not a developmental league. It’s a professional basketball league. It’s all about winning and losing games."
Kokoskov, 47, is originally from Serbia.
He spent three seasons as an assistant with the Jazz under Quin Snyder before he was hired in Phoenix.
Snyder defended Kokoskov after his firing, telling reporters, "I know what the quality coach he is, the kind of person he is."
“There’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll have future opportunities," Snyder said. "Anytime you’re in a program your first year with whatever type of adversity when something’s new, there’s always challenges.”
Reach Grizzlies beat writer David Cobb at david.cobb@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @Davidwcobb.