The Suns Reportedly Have ‘Strong Interest’ In Making Steve Nash Head Coach

Steve Nash
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The Phoenix Suns’ first crack at rebuilding from glory days of the mid 2000s has officially failed. For his team’s next try, owner Robert Sarver hopes to recreate some of the “Seven Seconds or Less” magic that made the Suns one of the league’s most entertaining teams for the better part of a decade.

According to Marc Stein of ESPN, Phoenix wants to replace ousted coach Jeff Hornacek with Steve Nash. The only problem? The two-time MVP isn’t quite ready to make a full-time move to the bench.

The Phoenix Suns have strong interest in former star guard Steve Nash for their coaching vacancy, but Nash is not interested in going into full-time coaching at this time, according to league sources.

Nash accepted a player development position with the Golden State Warriors in September, the first NBA gig he’s held since retiring from the game following the 2013-2014 season. ESPN reports that his hesitance to make a move to the bench – in Phoenix or elsewhere – centers on his current preference to focus on fatherhood and various off-court areas of interest. His responsibilities with the Warriors, for what it’s worth, are ones conducted on a “periodic” basis, the team said in a release announcing his hire.

The 41 year old played with the Suns from 2004-05 to 2011-12, ushering in the fast-paced, movement-based style of offense that’s so en vogue in today’s NBA. He guided Phoenix to five seasons at least 54 victories and three Western Conference Finals appearances before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer of 2012-13.

The Suns dismissed Hornacek on Sunday evening and are in the process of interviewing assistants to serve as interim coach. As Phoenix begins compiling a list of candidates to serve as permanent head coach, though, it seems the franchise can already cross its top choice, Nash, off the list.

(Via ESPN)

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