I know what the Phoenix Suns’ on court problem is

Give Igor some credit – and help

First-year head coach Igor Kokoskov is in an impossible spot.

There is no doubt in my mind that he is one of the most intelligent head coaches in the NBA. He has not only been on the bench for 18 years as an Assistant, but he led the Slovenian national team (a roster with talent)  to the EuroBasket championship, and is lauded for his intelligence on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.

If he had been given the Houston Rockets, he would be doing a masterful job and likely been discussed as a Coach of the Year candidate at the end of this year.

If he had been given the Los Angeles Lakers’ job – even with all the issues they are having – he would be having the kind of success that would make people question why he hadn’t been a head coach in the past.

More from Valley of the Suns

• Ranking the Phoenix Suns’ 5 holiday games in 2023-24
• Zion Williamson gets compared to Phoenix Suns legend
• Suns player preview: Bol Bol can be the perfect role player
• Former Suns’ guard shows he is officially done with Phoenix
• NBA insider guarantees Suns’ rival won’t make blockbuster trade

Yet here he is, leading a 1-6 team, and already fans have questioned whether or not he should be fired.

Give Igor Kokoskov a veteran star who says “to hell with losing, I’m here to win, and you all (his teammates) aren’t going to hold me back” and he’ll put together an offense that will be successful. He’ll put together a defense that can actually stop an opponent. He’ll put together a team that is primed to win and make losses of 30 points or more an anomaly rather than the rule.

Ryan McDonough talked regularly of cashing in his chips and using his young assets to grab a star, but never did/could.

Who knows what players he attempted to actually make a run at behind the scenes and failed, or if his talk of such goals was all fan lip service as he was fully focused on the youth movement on a fundamental level.

But James Jones needs to make that push. He needs to find that star. He needs to target that veteran star player who isn’t selfish but instead is ultra competitive and will will  his team to win, maybe himself currently needing an upgrade to the roster around him (Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton should help) to finally get over the top.

Let’s be real though: there aren’t many Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Steve Nash-type players out there with that kind of combination of competitiveness and skill to demand greater from his teammates, and get it.

But James Jones should know who those players are and know exactly which ones might be on the verge of being traded, or on demanding a trade, and sidle his way in.

Whether it is James Jones or another general manager, finding that veteran star is key.

Adding that player to the roster will fix many of the problems that ails the team.

This is the problem with the Phoenix Suns, now they just have to go out and fix it.