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Sacramento Kings hit a home run with Igor Kokoskov hiring

By Jonathan Roberts

SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 10: Head coach Igor Kokoskov of the Phoenix Suns coaches against the Sacramento Kings on February 10, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 10: Head coach Igor Kokoskov of the Phoenix Suns coaches against the Sacramento Kings on February 10, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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By hiring Igor Kokoskov, the Sacramento Kings have made arguably their best personnel move yet.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Sacramento Kings are hiring former Phoenix Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov in one of their better coaching hires in recent memory.

With 19 years of NBA coaching experience, Igor Kokoskov immediately the most experienced coach on the Kings’ staff when they reportedly hired him. His experience, while great, isn’t the best part of this hire — but it certainly doesn’t hurt.

Having coached under the likes of Alvin Gentry, Quin Snyder and Larry Brown, Kokoskov was one of the top head coach candidates on the market, and was hired by the Phoenix Suns last season to do just that. And though he only coached in Arizona for a single season, it’s hard to tell just how much of that was due to him and, well, Phoenix just being inept.

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He’s also spent considerable time coaching overseas, coaching the Serbian, Georgian and Slovenian National teams in some capacity for a total of nine years. He also led the Slovenian National team to a EuroBasket title in 2017.

As a coach, his offensive style a fast-paced system that often has his guards attacking downhill. With De’Aaron Fox in the fold, it’s hard to envision Kokoskov’s arrival as anything other than beneficial. This style also includes a bevy of misdirection and screens, which should serve Buddy Hield well, freeing him up behind the arc and opening up lanes for Fox and Marvin Bagley III to drive inside.

For him, spacing is of the utmost importance. And for a team that features one of the league’s best shooters, it’s possible we see another step forward from many of the young Kings in the shooting department. Add in a center/forward/guard/anythingdivacwants who can shoot three’s at a high-level and operate away from the rim in Bagley and you have a recipe for success.

Perhaps most importantly, however, is that Kokoskov figures to be Walton’s lead assistant for the 2019-20 season.

Why’s that so important? It means the Sacramento Kings will have someone with head coaching experience ready to take over should Walton be dismissed following the results of an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct.

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In addition, he also joins Jesse Mermuys, Bob Beyer and Roy Rana who were hired to Walton’s staff last month. What do you think of the hiring of Igor Kokoskov, Kings fans? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter (@ARoyalPain).

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