Sources: New head coach Frank Vogel was Phoenix Suns' first choice

Philadelphia got Nick Nurse, but Frank Vogel was always the guy Phoenix wanted.

Sources told The Republic Vogel was the Suns’ first choice of the five finalists for their vacant head-coaching position.

Suns associate head coach Kevin Young, Kings assistant Jordi Fernandez, Doc Rivers, Nurse and Vogel were the finalists.

Nurse interviewed with Philadelphia and Phoenix last week. The 76ers landed Nurse on Monday and had their introductory press conference Thursday.

On Friday, Phoenix agreed to terms with Vogel on a five-year, $31-million deal. Vogel is scheduled to have his introductory press conference early next week at Footprint Center.

Vogel replaced Monty Williams, who was fired after losing Game 6 to the No. 1-seeded Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals. The Pistons and Williams have agreed to a six-year, $78.5-million deal, making him the highest-paid coach in NBA history.

The Suns went into the process looking for a coach with championship experience. They identified Vogel, Nurse and Rivers as candidates who won titles as coaches.

Rivers coached the Celtics to the 2008 championship. Nurse won his in 2019 with the Raptors followed by Vogel in 2020 with the Lakers in the Orlando Bubble. Vogel was fired two seasons later after going 33-49 in 2021-22.

The Raptors parted ways with Nurse after finishing 41-41 this season and missing the playoffs after losing to Chicago in the play-in tournament.

The 76ers let go of Rivers after losing to the second-seeded Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Philadelphia never advanced past the conference semifinals in its three seasons under Rivers.

The Suns interviewed the finalists in Michigan last week after doing zoom interviews with 10 to 12 candidates, sources told The Republic. New team owner Mat Ishbia is from Birmingham, Michigan, as his company, United Wholesale Mortgage, is based in Pontiac, Michigan.

The 43-year-old billionaire bought the Suns and WNBA's Phoenix Mercury for a record $4 billion.

The finalists met with Ishbia and Suns president of basketball operations and general manager, James Jones, in Michigan. Sources told The Republic the Suns see the 49-year-old Vogel as a great guy and winner with tremendous work ethic who places high priority on defense.

Three of Vogel’s teams finished first in the league in defensive rating while two ranked third. The 2019-20 champion Lakers ranked third in that category.

The next season, they finished first in defensive rating.

Vogel has compiled an 431-389 record in 11 seasons as an NBA head coach, reached the playoffs seven times as a head coach, but his ability to build relationships with players with strong personalities and earn their trust was huge for the Suns, in placing him atop their wish list.

Vogel coached LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Rajon Rondo in winning a championship under challenging circumstances in the bubble, where the players were isolated from friends and family amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vogel played a role with keeping the Lakers motivated. He’ll now coach the Suns who have vocal players in Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant and Deandre Ayton.

Paul and Durant are viewed as two players with extensive basketball minds to rival any coach.

Whether the Suns maintain their roster though free agency remains to be seen, but as of right now, they have four players who provide a foundation for a championship contender.

The Suns only got eight games with Durant in the regular season after trading Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, four first round draft picks and a pick swap to Brooklyn for T.J. Warren and Durant right before the Feb. 9 trade deadline.

Durant missed 10 games after twisting his left ankle during pregame warmups March 8 before what would’ve been his home debut. With him going through an entire training camp with the team, Phoenix will have a better feel for how to play next season.

Having a holdover from the previous staff could help. Sources told the Republic the Suns hope to keep Young on the staff.

He joined the Suns going into the 2020-21 season under Williams and was elevated to associate head coach the following season under Williams after Willie Green left to take over as head coach in New Orleans.

The Suns won a franchise-best 64 games in the 2021-22 season with Young as the associate head coach. He’s been huge in the development of Booker and was someone Paul and Durant could be seen talking with during timeouts and on the bench this past season.

New head coaches typically pick their own staff, but retaining Young would be a way to for Phoenix to continue the continuity and connection he has with Booker and Paul.

Having interviewed for several head coaching jobs, Young, 41, has been their player development coach.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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