New Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer has taken another step in strengthening his coaching staff with the hiring of Brent Barry, who played for the San Antonio Spurs while Mike Budenholzer was an assistant coach there.
A source confirmed the addition to The Arizona Republic. ESPN first reported the news on Tuesday morning.
Barry has worked for the Spurs as vice president of basketball operations since September 2018 but has no NBA coaching experience.
Brent, the son of Hall of Famer Rick Barry, played four seasons in San Antonio from 2004 to 2008. Budenholzer was an assistant under Gregg Popovich during those four years, during which the Spurs won two championships.
San Antonio defeated the Detroit Pistons in seven games in the 2005 NBA Finals and swept the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2007 Finals.
The Suns, under head coach Frank Vogel, retained David Fitzdale from their previous coaching staff and added Vince Legarza, Mike Hopkins, Chad Forcier and Chaisson Allen. Legarza worked with Hopkins and Allen as head coaches for Phoenix's NBA Summer League team.
Budenholzer suggested his coaching staff isn't yet complete during the Las Vegas Summer League earlier this month.
“We still need to add a little bit,” Budenholzer said, “and I'm happy with the group we have in town that we've got under contract and are at home. We still have a little bit of work to do.”
Brent Barry is best known for winning the 1996 NBA Slam Dunk Championship, beating out Michael Finley of the Suns. Barry was a rookie for the Los Angeles Clippers at the time. He played 14 seasons in the NBA.
Have thoughts on the current state of the Suns? Contact Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or 480-810-5518. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter). Duane Rankin.
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