Introductory news conference for new Suns GM Brian Gregory
The Phoenix Suns hold an introductory press conference for their new general manager, Brian Gregory.
New Phoenix Suns general manager Brian Gregory stressed during his introductory press conference last week the head coaching search would be an “extensive process” largely based on the importance of the hire.
“I’m not going to give a timetable because I want to make sure we get this right,” Gregory said. “This is very, very critical for us moving forward.”
Sources informed The Arizona Republic this week the Suns have conducted more than 15 interviews during the initial stages of the search and are making “great progress.”
Phoenix will have its fourth head coach in four seasons after suffering its first losing season since 2019-20 under one-and-done Mike Budenholzer.
“There’s a lot of reasons why Coach Bud is not here. I’m not going to get into all those reasons, but definitely believe we should’ve won a lot more games and been a lot more competitive during those games as well,” Suns team owner Mat Ishbia said during last month’s end-of-season news conference.
“Wish him the best, but it was the wrong coach for our organization and for that team and at the end of the day, you can blame me for it because I’m the owner.”
Phoenix finished 36-46 in missing the playoffs after reaching postseason play the previous four seasons.
Gregory laid out what type of coach the Suns seek.
“Unbelievable basketball IQ,” he said. “Tremendous communicator. Shares our vision and what we understand needs to be done to be successful in basketball in this new NBA.”
Gregory has never coached in the NBA, but he was a head coach on the NCAA Division I level for 19 seasons before joining the Suns as a consultant in 2023.
“The toughness, the physicality, all those different things and has the ability to hold the players accountable to doing that,” Gregory added. “Playing and having a systematic approach offensively and defensively. Those attributes, in addition to understanding this, is what our identity is, and we’re going to coach to this on a daily basis.”
Gregory also stressed the importance of communication for a head coach.
New Suns GM Brian Gregory on head coaching search, role of Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein
The Suns are looking to redefine the team identity with that coach that brings a systematic approach, toughness and accountability
“That collaborative effort within the NBA is becoming more and more crucial for success,” Gregory said. “You’ve got players who have played a long time, players who have seen a lot of different things. If you’re not in touch with them and communicating with them, I think it puts you in a difficult spot. So from a front office perspective, and obviously, back to the coaching perspective, those things are very, very important for us because if you don’t do that, there’s no way you can build the alignment.”
The Suns announced the firing of Budenholzer on April 14, one day after their season ended with a road loss to the Sacramento Kings.
Ishbia outlined what he expects in the next coach in his press conference.
“We’re going to look for someone that fits the vision of Phoenix Suns basketball organization,” Ishbia said. “Someone who is going to live out exactly what I’m talking about. Someone who is a little bit grimy, a little bit grinder, a little bit tough. Have a little bit of that in them. I joke, but it’s true, I’m no talent, all heart. That’s my life. I will just outwork everyone. I’m going to have a coach, a front office, players, that the Phoenix community will love because it’s going to be that.”
Ishbia and Gregory are all about the new head coach being aligned with ownership and the front office.
“It can’t be, I believe this, and front office believes this, and the coach is like, ‘yeah, but I don’t care that the guys are cheering guys on’ and ‘I don’t care if the guys are paying attention in the huddle,” Ishbia said last month. “That’s not going to do with us. We’ve got to set it first up front with the leadership, it starts with me, and we will do that. And then we will get the right front office structure with scouts and what to look for in the draft, and we’re going to find the right coach.”
Ishbia’s elevation of Gregory from vice president to general manager and shifting James Jones to senior adviser are two major moves in creating the “right front office structure.”
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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