Terry Porter New Coach of the Pheonix Suns.
- Thread starter Deezz
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You've gotta be kidding. I just don't see this one working too well.
Suns tab Porter to be next coach
Associated Press
Updated: June 7, 2008, 5:15 PM EST
Terry Porter will be the Phoenix Suns' next coach, ending the club's monthlong search for a successor to Mike D'Antoni.
Phoenix general manager Steve Kerr said Saturday he had agreed to terms with Porter, who was an assistant with the Detroit Pistons.
The 45-year-old Porter played in the NBA for 17 seasons and teamed with Kerr in San Antonio.
"He's got a great combination of leadership skills," Kerr said in a telephone interview. "He's a great communicator. And his coaching experience, two years as a head coach, is important to me. The fact that he's sat in that chair, that was a key factor. He's very tough-minded."
Porter is expected to sign a three-year deal worth about $7 million, and he likely will be introduced at a news conference early next week.
Porter emerged from an extensive list of candidates interviewed by the Suns. Last week, Kerr said the list had been pared to four — Porter and assistants Elston Turner of Houston, Tyrone Corbin of Utah and Mike Budenholzer of San Antonio.
Porter was the only one with head coaching experience, with two seasons at the helm of the Milwaukee Bucks.
"We interviewed some great candidates, and we wanted to take our time and make sure we made the right choice," Kerr said. "He's the right guy, and I'm glad to have him on board."
Porter will become the Suns' seventh coach since 1993, when they made their last NBA Finals appearance.
Associated Press
Updated: June 7, 2008, 5:15 PM EST
Terry Porter will be the Phoenix Suns' next coach, ending the club's monthlong search for a successor to Mike D'Antoni.
Phoenix general manager Steve Kerr said Saturday he had agreed to terms with Porter, who was an assistant with the Detroit Pistons.
The 45-year-old Porter played in the NBA for 17 seasons and teamed with Kerr in San Antonio.
"He's got a great combination of leadership skills," Kerr said in a telephone interview. "He's a great communicator. And his coaching experience, two years as a head coach, is important to me. The fact that he's sat in that chair, that was a key factor. He's very tough-minded."
Porter is expected to sign a three-year deal worth about $7 million, and he likely will be introduced at a news conference early next week.
Porter emerged from an extensive list of candidates interviewed by the Suns. Last week, Kerr said the list had been pared to four — Porter and assistants Elston Turner of Houston, Tyrone Corbin of Utah and Mike Budenholzer of San Antonio.
Porter was the only one with head coaching experience, with two seasons at the helm of the Milwaukee Bucks.
"We interviewed some great candidates, and we wanted to take our time and make sure we made the right choice," Kerr said. "He's the right guy, and I'm glad to have him on board."
Porter will become the Suns' seventh coach since 1993, when they made their last NBA Finals appearance.
Good. Somebody that Kerr can't just boss around. Should be interesting
Actually Terry Porter is somebody that Steve Kerr can boss around. TP is not a coveted head coach in the NBA... I don't think other teams were beating down Porter's door.
Bullshit. Porter is a strong black man who believes in himself and will look you directly in the eye and let you know what he thinks. Getting pushed around has nothing to do with him being in high demand. He is going to make a good living regardless of where he goes. Even if he isn't successful as a head coach. Kerr may hold sway over his immediate job, but he has no sway over Porter's life.
He is also a Steve Kerr contemporary. Kerr cannot get full of himself (or his job title) with Porter. Because Porter was there when Kerr was a nobody
THAT is what I mean by not getting "pushed around"
you mean Phoenix Suns, not Pheonix
PHOENIX (AP) - It didn't take Terry Porter long to understand the expectations facing him as he takes over the Phoenix Suns.
One of the first questions at Porter's introductory news conference on Monday came from Phil Gordon, a Suns fan who also happens to be the mayor of Phoenix.
"Coach, are we going to have a world champion team this year?" Gordon asked.
As many in the US Airways Center practice court laughed, general manager Steve Kerr turned to Porter and said, "The chair's hot already, isn't it?"
Gordon's question has dogged the Suns throughout their 40-year history. Though they have been among the NBA's most successful franchises - the Suns' .558 winning percentage ranks fourth in the league - the Suns have not won a title.
After failing to bring home a trophy with Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo style, the Suns hope the 45-year-old Porter will provide a new approach, combining a fastbreak offense with a stronger emphasis on defense.
After reaching the Western Conference finals in 2005 and 2006, Phoenix was eliminated in the second round in 2007 and made a first-round exit this spring. But Porter embraced the high expectations.
"I think it is a championship-caliber team," said Porter, who reportedly agreed to a three-year contract worth about $7 million. "I think they have some pieces in place that have obviously competed at that level over the last four years."
Porter inherits a talented but aging roster that features former MVPs Steve Nash and Shaquille O'Neal, along one of the league's best front-line players in Amare Stoudemire.
Porter comes to the Suns from the Detroit Pistons, where he served as an assistant coach. His hiring ends a monthlong search for a successor to D'Antoni, who left last month to coach the New York Knicks.
Under D'Antoni, the Suns employed an attack predicated on firing shots in seven seconds or less, a style that won many admirers. But the Suns' inability to play consistent defense haunted them, especially in the playoffs.
"Obviously, there will be differences and there will be nuances," Kerr said. "But the key for us was having somebody who would be balanced on both sides of the ball, who wanted to continue to push the ball and maintain our up-tempo style but could also help us come in and improve defensively. That's one of the reasons we felt like he was the right fit."
Porter went 71-93 (.433) as Milwaukee's head coach from 2003-05, leading the Bucks into the playoffs in his first year. The Bucks led the Eastern Conference in scoring in 2003-04, averaging 98 points per game while conceding 97.
Porter promised to shore up Phoenix's defense, and he said it would begin on the practice floor.
"I will be hands-on when it comes to the defense," Porter said. "When you talk about defense, there's got to be a desire there, and there's got to be a lot of repetition."
The 6-foot-3 Porter played guard in the NBA for 17 seasons, retiring with 15,586 points after the 2001-02 season. Kerr teamed with Porter in San Antonio in 1999-2000 and 2000-01, and the two were offseason golf partners.
But Kerr stressed that he hadn't turned to Porter because he's a friend.
"This is more based on respect than it is on friendship," Kerr said. "You look at his career, he's always been a winner."
Porter emerged during a national search by Kerr and David Griffin, senior vice president for basketball operations. Last week, Kerr said the list had been pared to four - Porter and assistants Elston Turner of Houston, Tyrone Corbin of Utah and Mike Budenholzer of San Antonio.
Porter was the only one of the final four with head coaching experience.
"When 'Griff' and I finished this process, we looked at each other and said, 'Terry's the guy,' " said Kerr, who will meet with Porter to name a coaching staff in the next few weeks.
Porter is the Suns' 13th coach and their seventh since 1993, when they made their last NBA Finals appearance.
Porter's predecessors also faced pressure to win an NBA title, although few heard it directly from the mayor. Porter said Gordon's question didn't faze him.
"That's just part of the community, right?" Porter said. "Everybody wants to win a championship. And there's nothing wrong with that. You have to embrace that, along with the players embracing that."
One of the first questions at Porter's introductory news conference on Monday came from Phil Gordon, a Suns fan who also happens to be the mayor of Phoenix.
"Coach, are we going to have a world champion team this year?" Gordon asked.
As many in the US Airways Center practice court laughed, general manager Steve Kerr turned to Porter and said, "The chair's hot already, isn't it?"
Gordon's question has dogged the Suns throughout their 40-year history. Though they have been among the NBA's most successful franchises - the Suns' .558 winning percentage ranks fourth in the league - the Suns have not won a title.
After failing to bring home a trophy with Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo style, the Suns hope the 45-year-old Porter will provide a new approach, combining a fastbreak offense with a stronger emphasis on defense.
After reaching the Western Conference finals in 2005 and 2006, Phoenix was eliminated in the second round in 2007 and made a first-round exit this spring. But Porter embraced the high expectations.
"I think it is a championship-caliber team," said Porter, who reportedly agreed to a three-year contract worth about $7 million. "I think they have some pieces in place that have obviously competed at that level over the last four years."
Porter inherits a talented but aging roster that features former MVPs Steve Nash and Shaquille O'Neal, along one of the league's best front-line players in Amare Stoudemire.
Porter comes to the Suns from the Detroit Pistons, where he served as an assistant coach. His hiring ends a monthlong search for a successor to D'Antoni, who left last month to coach the New York Knicks.
Under D'Antoni, the Suns employed an attack predicated on firing shots in seven seconds or less, a style that won many admirers. But the Suns' inability to play consistent defense haunted them, especially in the playoffs.
"Obviously, there will be differences and there will be nuances," Kerr said. "But the key for us was having somebody who would be balanced on both sides of the ball, who wanted to continue to push the ball and maintain our up-tempo style but could also help us come in and improve defensively. That's one of the reasons we felt like he was the right fit."
Porter went 71-93 (.433) as Milwaukee's head coach from 2003-05, leading the Bucks into the playoffs in his first year. The Bucks led the Eastern Conference in scoring in 2003-04, averaging 98 points per game while conceding 97.
Porter promised to shore up Phoenix's defense, and he said it would begin on the practice floor.
"I will be hands-on when it comes to the defense," Porter said. "When you talk about defense, there's got to be a desire there, and there's got to be a lot of repetition."
The 6-foot-3 Porter played guard in the NBA for 17 seasons, retiring with 15,586 points after the 2001-02 season. Kerr teamed with Porter in San Antonio in 1999-2000 and 2000-01, and the two were offseason golf partners.
But Kerr stressed that he hadn't turned to Porter because he's a friend.
"This is more based on respect than it is on friendship," Kerr said. "You look at his career, he's always been a winner."
Porter emerged during a national search by Kerr and David Griffin, senior vice president for basketball operations. Last week, Kerr said the list had been pared to four - Porter and assistants Elston Turner of Houston, Tyrone Corbin of Utah and Mike Budenholzer of San Antonio.
Porter was the only one of the final four with head coaching experience.
"When 'Griff' and I finished this process, we looked at each other and said, 'Terry's the guy,' " said Kerr, who will meet with Porter to name a coaching staff in the next few weeks.
Porter is the Suns' 13th coach and their seventh since 1993, when they made their last NBA Finals appearance.
Porter's predecessors also faced pressure to win an NBA title, although few heard it directly from the mayor. Porter said Gordon's question didn't faze him.
"That's just part of the community, right?" Porter said. "Everybody wants to win a championship. And there's nothing wrong with that. You have to embrace that, along with the players embracing that."