Booker wants Triano to be Suns' permanent head coach
This holiday season, Jay Triano received what may be the best endorsement he could've wished for.
The interim head coach of the Phoenix Suns got the backing of the team's franchise player, Devin Booker, who indicated he wants Triano to take over for good.
"Me and Triano have that relationship. He's somebody I'm comfortable with and somebody I've been around for a long time," Booker told azcentral.com earlier this week.
"I love Triano. I don't make those calls but he's been doing a wonderful job since he's been here and I would vouch for him. He's been really good."
The Suns fired Earl Watson following a 0-3 start to the season, and named Triano his interim replacement. The Canadian bench boss, who's been serving as Phoenix's associate head coach since 2016-17, has led his men to a 12-19 record.
While that record is nothing to write home about, Booker believes it doesn't reflect the progress the Suns have made with Triano at the helm. The club was closer to .500 before the 21-year-old shooting guard went down with a groin injury, and overall has seen vast improvements on both sides of the ball.
| Coach | PTS | FG% | REB | AST | TOV | OFFRTG | DEFRTG | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watson | 98 | 33.3 | 39.7 | 15.3 | 18.7 | 90.4 | 117.0 | -30.7 |
| Triano | 106.5 | 44.6 | 46.6 | 20.5 | 15.5 | 102.1 | 108.4 | -4.7 |
Triano has over 14 years of experience on an NBA coaching staff, previously serving with the Toronto Raptors and Portland Trail Blazers. Booker's faith in him should be encouraging, considering the Suns are rebuilding around the talented young scorer and expected to offer him a max extension next summer.