‘Time’: Phoenix Suns General Manager Explains His Process of Hiring a New Head Coach

“Time. I think it was evident given the time crunch and given where we were that it wasn’t as thorough or as deep of a search as we would like,” Jones said.

According to the former NBA player, they’ll use the time they have to carefully screen which coach fits well with the team’s philosophy.

“Fortunately for us, the season ended early so it gives us more time to get this right. Unfortunately, the season ended super early, which means we’re in this position. But we’re gonna be diligent, we’re gonna match the coaches that designed the franchise.

“The coach as to live and breathe and agree with everything that we’re about. That’s the only way you can sustain it. It’s easy to do it for a month, it’s easy to do it for six months, a year. If you don’t believe it, you don’t live it. But over time, when you realize just how much you care about it, how important it is to us and how intertwined it is to the fabric of the Phoenix Suns. If you’re not about it, you won’t be able to live it.”

The team finished 11th in the West with a 36-46 record and has the urge to improve next campaign.

Phoenix Suns owner clapped back at ESPN analyst for his criticism

During the press conference held by the Phoenix Suns, owner Mat Ishbia clapped back at ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. Earlier, he was criticized by Smith and said that Ishbia is “on the verge of being recognized as the worst owner” ever in the history of basketball.

“Stephen A. Smith, I don’t take much of what he says seriously,” Ishbia said. “I don’t think many people do to be honest with you. The things he said about Kevin Durant, just wrong and disrespectful. The things he said about LeBron (James) were just disrespectful and inappropriate.”

Ishbia said he believes Smith will eventually apologize for what he said about the CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage. The owner thinks the ESPN analyst is simply doing his job of speaking into the microphone.

The Phoenix Suns’ owner believes he isn’t a terrible owner because of how the team underperformed over the past two seasons since he purchased it.