In case you missed any of this past week’s top stories from around the league, we have you covered with our Week in Review. Below are the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days.
The Suns are hiring Jazz assistant coach Igor Kokoskov as their new head coach. Kokoskov, 46, interviewed with the Suns for a second time during the Jazz’ series against the Rockets and was named head coach shortly thereafter. Kokoskov is signing a three-year deal with no options and will be the first head coach in NBA history to be born and raised outside North America.
The Knicks and former Grizzlies’ head coach David Fizdale have come to an agreement naming Fizdale as the team’s next head coach. Fizdale, 43, will sign a four-year contract and will become the Knicks’ 11th head coach since the 2001/02 season. In addition to his recent head coaching experience, Fizdale was an assistant coach with the Heat for eight seasons, helping the team reach four NBA Finals, winning two of them.
Stephen Curry missed Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Pelicans, but returned in Game 2 to help Golden State take a 2-0 series lead. Curry, coming back from a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee, scored 28 points off the bench in 27 minutes.
Three more players made decisions on their player options for the 2018/19 season. Clippers forward Wesley Johnson intends to pick up his option worth about $6.1MM, while Pacers point guard Cory Joseph officially picked up his player option worth roughly $7.9MM. Meanwhile, Wolves guard Jamal Crawford will turn down his player option worth about $4.5MM and become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Highly touted 2018 NBA Draft prospect Luka Doncic will not work out for NBA teams due to his commitment to Real Madrid in Spain. Real Madrid is scheduled to compete in the Euroleague Final Four later this month, then will play in the Liga ACB postseason after that. The Liga ACB playoffs are scheduled to begin on May 27, and could end as late as June 23, two days after the NBA draft, and Doncic refuses miss any postseason games with his current team.
Here are 11 more headlines from the past week:
- The agent of Nuggets’ big man Nikola Jokic has advised the franchise not to pick up Jokic’s 2018/19 team option.
- Trail Blazers assistant coach David Vanterpool has received permission to interview for the head coaching vacancies in Orlando and Charlotte.
- The Magic will also interview Spurs assistant coach Ime Udoka for their head coaching job, while the Hornets will interview Udoka’s colleague, Spurs’ assistant James Borrego, for their opening at head coach.
- The Hornets have also been granted permission to interview Bulls’ associate head coach Jim Boylen.
- The Hawks will interview Trail Blazers’ assistant coach Nate Tibbetts and Warriors’ assistant Jarron Collins for their head coaching vacancy.
- The Hawks will also interview Hornets’ assistant coach Stephen Silas, Celtics’ assistant Jay Larranaga, and Sixers’ assistant Lloyd Pierce for the team’s head coaching position.
- Jazz point guard Ricky Rubio injured his left hamstring in the team’s first round series win against the Thunder and has yet to return for the Western Conference Semifinals against the Rockets.
- Pistons head coach and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy is resisting team owner Tom Gores‘ plan to make structural changes within the organization.
- Thunder head coach Billy Donovan will return to coach the team next season.
- The Bucks will interview Spurs assistant Ettore Messina, former Hornets head coach Steve Clifford, and former Pelicans head coach Monty Williams for their head coaching vacancy,
- The Bucks will also interview Spurs assistants Becky Hammon and James Borrego.