Phoenix Suns choose Frank Vogel as new head coach

By Leobert Julian A. de la Pe؜ña

Former Los Angeles Lakers chief tactician Frank Vogel will be the next man tasked to push the Phoenix Suns to NBA post season glory following the firing of Monty Williams several days ago.

Vogel’s arrival with Phoenix was confirmed by veteran sports insider Shams Charania of The Athletic together with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowksi last June 2, 2023.

The defensive-minded head coach first reached NBA stardom when he led the Indiana Pacers to a playoff-contending squad from 2011-2014 and built a solid core of Paul George, Danny Granger, David West, Roy Hibbert, George Hill, and Lance Stephenson.

That team mentored by Vogel was close to advancing to the NBA Finals but eventually fell down to the Miami Heat led by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.

After failing to re-negotiate with the Pacers, Vogel next took his talents to the Orlando Magic but only had two seasons there before signing with the Lakers.

Vogel then re-introduced his name in the NBA when he spearheaded the Lakers to a 2020 championship title run amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Los Angeles got the better of the Miami Heat and closed them out in six games which was led by the dynamic duo of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

That 2020 championship campaign was the last post season success Vogel had as a head coach and wasn’t renewed by the Lakers organization after losing in the playoffs the following year.

Now the veteran tactician will be having a tough task handling a star-studded Phoenix team coming off a loss in the ongoing 2023 NBA Playoffs.

Phoenix exited the post season during the Western Conference semifinals when they were beaten by Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in Game 6.

Few days after the series loss, Phoenix immediately fired Monty Williams who is now headed to the Detroit Pistons after agreeing to a six-year $78,500,000 contract.