Dan Majerle, not Alvin Gentry will be the coached more dearly missed on the Phoenix Suns bench come seasons end.
This past week for the Phoenix Suns has seen the removal of three coaches, head coach Alvin Gentry, lead assistant Elston Turner and assistant coach Dan Majerle from the organization.
As we let the recent firings settle, it was clear to see that Gentry’s time was limited in Phoenix. He was in the lame-duck year of his contract with little apparent interest of a new contract on the way by team president Lon Babby and general manager Lance Blanks.
After ‘mutually’ parting with from Gentry, the front-office progressed with internal interviews of the coaching staff to emerge with a hopeful candidate that could somehow turn this disastrous season into a positive ‘jolt’.
After a series of weekend interviews, Babby decided to skip over both Turner and Majerle, in favor of the unexperienced Lindsey Hunter.
Dan Majerle, the favorited candidate by players, immediately stormed out from the Suns facilities upon hearing the news that neither him nor lead assistant Elston Turner were promoted.
After being passed up for the interim job, Majerle will not return to the #Suns to complete his fifth coaching season. bit.ly/11Nl3bp—
Paul Coro (@paulcoro) January 22, 2013
Majerle will not return to the team but will be paid the remainder of his salary for this season.—
John Gambadoro (@Gambo620) January 22, 2013
And following Majerle’s cue, Turner followed suit and announced to the organization that would not be returning in the future.
Unfortunately, coaches getting fired has become part of the NBA, just ask Avery Johnson. Suns fans will soon get over Gentry and Turner’s firing and so too will both coaches considering they still come highly regarded in the NBA and will have the remainder of their contracts paid.
It is Dan Majerle’s absence who will hurt the hearts of the loyal Sun fans and coaching staff the most.
He brought a certain level of energy and hustle that motivated and inspired Suns players.
Majerle needs no introduction. Since retiring in 2003, Majerle has become a staple of the Phoenix Suns and an inductee into the Suns Ring of Honor. He is, arguably, a stronger fan favorite than that of Steve Nash.
Check out Valley of the Suns Kevin Zimmerman’s article on just that here.
Change had to come. Suns fans wanted to rebuild, not regress as the organization has appeared to do.
Hey Topher Lambert, big fan of yours. Just wanted to ask if you feel Lindsay Hunter will be the head coach of the Suns come the 2013-2014 season?
Alex, appreciate the love. I, myself, am a longtime-listener first-time caller. The future of Lindsey Hunter is engrained into the future of the front office. Hunter was selected over both assistant coaches Majerle and Turner, by GM Lance Blanks. Blanks is a basketball guy who has a smart intelligence for the game. He undoubtedly sees a future for the coach in Phoenix, but in order to promote him from interim to head coach, Blanks himself will have to make the cut and remain GM next year, which in my personal opinion I believe will happen.
Hopefully if Hunter does return, it will be as magical as Kenny Powers returning to the mound in Mechico. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MpEwvXJp8