3 reasons keeping Kevin Young was masterstroke move by the Suns
By Luke Duffy
The Phoenix Suns look to have gotten their next head coach in Frank Vogel, the former Los Angeles Lakers main man who helped lead LeBron James to his fourth championship back in 2020. Vogel wasn’t the top name on everybody’s lists for the job, but there can be no doubt that he is the right coach who has come along at the right time.
Vogel will bring with him the experience of that championship run in Hollywood, as well as a tenure overseeing a really good Indiana Pacers team that was closer to contention than a lot of people remember. Sandwiched in between that was a stint with the Orlando Magic, but even that two-year run showed that Vogel’s strengths lie in taking teams over the top, not rebuilding them.
Alongside the appointment of Vogel, lead assistant Kevin Young has also been kept on with the coaching staff, and this is just as important for the Suns.
Young was one of the finalists for the top gig himself, and came with the endorsement of superstar Devin Booker. It is clear he is respected both by the Suns and around the league, which was why they saw fit to give him a new, $2 million a year deal to sticking around, making him the top paid assistant in the entire NBA.
This was far from the no-brainer move that some fans think it was, and it means that the current front office and owner Mat Ishbia had to confer with Vogel to ensure he too was alright with Young staying as a holdover from the Monty Williams era.
The importance of this cannot be overstated, as incoming head coaches typically like to pick their staff and begin with a clean slate with an organization. It says a lot about the standing of Young that this wasn’t the case with the Suns. If this team does win a championship in the next few years, being able to keep Young will be seen as a notable moment on their journey. Here is why.