Phoenix Suns hire former Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel to lead team

Vogel coached the Pacers for over five seasons

According to multiple reports, the Phoenix Suns are hiring former Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel to be the next coach of the franchise. After falling in the second round of the postseason to the Denver Nuggets, the Suns moved on from Monty Williams.

Vogel is a winning coach. He has 431 victories in the NBA and is 49-39 in the postseason. He guided the Los Angeles Lakers to the title in 2020, and he led the 2013 and 2014 Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals. Outside of a stint with the Orlando Magic, Vogel has been a great coach when it comes to winning games.

He is known for his defensive abilities. Indiana was top-10 in defensive rating in all five seasons that Vogel was the head coach, including being first twice. They were excellent on the less glamorous end of the floor.

The championship Lakers team Vogel guided was the third-best defensive squad in the NBA. Everywhere Vogel goes ends up improving on defense, and the Suns should benefit from that.

The now-Phoenix head coach also helped with the development of Paul Geroge, Roy Hibbert, and Lance Stephenson with the Pacers. George won Most Improved Player in 2013. While player development isn't something Vogel is known for, he is solid at getting the most out of his young players. Deandre Ayton, and other youth that Phoenix acquires, will be in a solid situation.

Vogel went 250-181 as the coach of the Pacers and led the team to five playoff appearances. They made it out of the first round three times. He was replaced by Nate McMillan in 2016, at which time Vogel went to the Orlando Magic.

Now, he's with the Suns, where he will try to guide Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and the rest of the Phoenix roster to a championship.

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