Top 5 Finalists Emerge For Phoenix Suns Coach

Who wants to coach Kevin Durant and Devin Booker? Who will try to mend the Phoenix Suns? Apparently, both a Doc and a Nurse are in the running. The list of candidates for the Suns' head coaching position has come down to a list of five finalists:

Sources: The Phoenix Suns have narrowed their head coaching search to five finalists: Nick Nurse, Frank Vogel, Doc Rivers, Kings assistant Jordi Fernandez and Suns assistant Kevin Young.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 24, 2023

According to NBA Insider Shams Charania, that list is as follows:

Nick Nurse
Frank Vogel
Doc Rivers
Jordi Fernandez
Kevin Young

That's three former NBA championship coaches (though in the case of Rivers, that seems like another century — over a decade and a half ago).

Nurse won a title in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors, Vogel in 2020 with the Los Angeles Lakers, and Rivers... back in 2008. Doc's most notable playoff memories since that time, however, are blowing 3-1 and 3-2 series leads.

Jordi Fernandez, 40, was the lead assistant to Mike Brown with the Sacramento Kings this season, and has been a candidate for other head coaching jobs, including getting an interview with the Raptors last month.

Young has been an assistant to the deposed Monty Williams in Phoenix, and even coached four games for Williams in the 2021-22 regular season. He earned high praise from Chris Paul at the time, and that still stands.

Suns assistant coach Kevin Young is a 'serious candidate' to replace Monty Williams as head coach, per @TheSteinLine.

Young has strong backing from Devin Booker. pic.twitter.com/R88zSmNSbd
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 24, 2023