Bombshell Dropped on Phoenix Suns' Coaching Search

While the Phoenix Suns have reportedly narrowed their coaching search to five candidates, the Ringer's Bill Simmons believes that the organization already has their top guy.

Do the Phoenix Suns already know who their next coach will be?

The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported yesterday that the Suns have narrowed their head coaching search to Nick Nurse, Doc Rivers, Kevin Young, Frank Vogel and Jordi Fernandez. 

However, the Ringer’s Bill Simmons is positive that Phoenix have already zeroed in on their top candidate:

“From the producers of I told you Bronny (James) was going to USC six weeks ago, it’s gonna be Kevin Young.” - @BillSimmons on his latest podcast with @KevinOConnorNBA https://t.co/5WbcVoVbHR

There’s a lot of buzz building around Kevin Young becoming the Suns’ next head coach. pic.twitter.com/NoiLiFD96p

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 24, 2023

“From the producers of I told you Bronny (James) was going to USC six weeks ago, it’s gonna be Kevin Young,” Simmons said on his latest podcast.

Young has been with Phoenix since 2020 starting off as an assistant coach and transitioned into the associate head coach under Monty Williams. 

Simmons’ bombshell on his podcast comes just a week following a report from Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes stating, “The Suns also have a coaching search to conduct after the firing of Monty Williams. Kevin Young, an associate head coach under Williams, will interview with the Suns as early as next week, sources say. Young appears to have the backing of many Suns' players.”

Since Young already has a pre existing relationship with all the players on the team, there won’t be as big of a transition period for the Suns to overcome and they could hit the ground running from the start of the season. Young is also highly respected and trusted amongst the entire organization.

“If it’s alignment you’re looking for, Suns associate head coach Kevin Young is a natural fit,” Kevin Arnovitz wrote for ESPN last year. “Both the Suns’ basketball ops crew and head coach Monty Williams regard Young as an essential hub to share ideas across the organization.

“It’s a logical role for a young coach who excels at both listening and communicating. Young served as a head coach in the G League for six seasons, which gave him a foundation as an organizer and big-picture thinker. He has earned the respect of players with his work ethic and candor. He was a finalist for the Washington job last spring, where his sharpness impressed.”

Time will only tell if Simmons is correct on Young being Phoenix’s next head coach, but early signs are indeed pointing his direction.