Despite having a star-studded roster, the Phoenix Suns made significant offseason moves. They hired Mike Budenholzer as their head coach and brought in San Antonio Spurs champion Brent Barry as an assistant coach.
Barry, drafted by the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 1995 NBA Draft, was soon traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. Throughout his career, Barry played for several teams, including the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Seattle Supersonics, San Antonio Spurs, and Houston Rockets. He was known for his passing skills, three-point shooting, and versatility.
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Barry won two NBA championships with the Spurs in 2005 and 2007 and made history by becoming the first white player to win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 1996. After retiring, he worked as a sports commentator for NBA on TNT and hosted NBA Gametime on NBA TV.
In 2018, Barry returned to the Spurs as an executive, serving as vice president of basketball operations. Now, he has been hired as an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns.
Following a disappointing season, the Suns are making efforts to improve, one of which includes hiring Barry as an assistant coach. NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski announced this move on his official Instagram account.
This new role marks Barry’s first coaching experience, where he will work closely with the Suns’ All-Star trio: two-time champion Kevin Durant, All-Star guard Devin Booker, and former Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal.
The impact of Barry’s addition to the coaching staff remains to be seen. Fans will soon find out how the Suns perform with Barry as part of their coaching team.