THE Suns have reduced their list of head coach candidates to five – Nick Nurse, Frank Vogel, Doc Rivers, kings assistant Joesaid Fernandez And Suns assistant Kevin YoungShams Charania of The Athletic tweet.
The five finalists will meet the new owner Mat Ichbiateam president james jones and other team leaders in Michigan this week, according to Charania (Twitter link). Ishbia is from Michigan and played basketball for Michigan State. His mortgage company, United Wholesale Mortgage, is also based in Michigan.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports there are four finalists, omitting Vogel.
Rejected Phoenix Monty Williams after exiting in the second round playoffs.
Nurse apparently positioned himself to quickly get another coaching job after parting ways with the Raptors after the season. He is also a finalist for the Bucks head coach job and a candidate for the vacant Sixers head coach job.
Vogel, who coached the Lakers to a championship in 2020, was interviewed Tuesday for the Sixers job. Vogel was also linked to the Bucks’ job but is not among the reported finalists.
Rivers was let go just a week ago by the Sixers but was open to coaching again next season if the right opportunity presented itself.
Fernandez, who served as by Mike Brown Sacramento’s top assistant this season, is also a candidate for the former nursing position. Young was a contender for the Bucks job but didn’t make the final cut.
A prominent name not included in the Suns finalist list is former deer coach Mike Budenholzer.