Login

Register | Forgot Your Password? | Close
listen Listen: Alvin Gentry, former Suns head coach
Alvin discussed his dismissal from the Suns with Burns & Gambo; also what he thinks about interim coach Lindsey Hunter and the departure of Dan Majerle.

It's been four days since Alvin Gentry and the Phoenix Suns "parted ways".

It's been two days since the Suns named Lindsey Hunter, who had been a player development coordinator, as the interim head coach.

Gentry granted an interview to Burns and Gambo on Arizona Sports 620 Tuesday and spoke about the change and how difficult it's been.

But one moment from the interview really stood out.

Dave Burns: Were you ever comfortable with the presence of Lindsey Hunter with the Phoenix Suns?

Alvin Gentry: (Pause) Uhh...(pause)...I don't think it's that important to answer that. It is what it is. Like I said, the decision has been made and everybody has moved on. It is what it is.

The Suns picked Hunter to guide the team over much more experienced and qualified candidates Elston Howard and Dan Majerle. Majerle has already walked away from the coaching staff, but will receive his due salary for the rest of the season.

Hunter, whose 17-year playing career ended in 2010, was named as a special assistant for the Suns in August, prior to the start of the 2012-13 season.

"I think both of those guys are well-qualified. I think both of those guys bring different things to the table, but they've been in the business a long time," Gentry said. "I thought they were well-qualified. I thought they could've done a great job with it, but the powers-that-be decided to go in another direction and yeah, if you're asking me if their feelings were hurt, obviously they were."

Despite the Suns' dismal 13-28 record this season, Gentry did look back fondly on his nine-year stint with the team as an assistant and head coach.

"The one game that sticks in my mind is the game in L.A. (Game 6 of 2006 Western Conference Quarterfinals) where Tim Thomas makes the three-point shot to get the game in overtime and we end up winning that game and we come home and win the series," he said. "I just think that was probably the most exciting game I've been involved in as a playoff game.

"Regular season, no doubt in my mind, it's the game with New Jersey where Steve Nash and Jason Kidd (December 7, 2006) had the two best games as point guards I've ever seen since I've been in this league. I think we ended up winning the game in double overtime."

The Suns did win the game 161-157, behind Nash's 42 points and 13 assists. Kidd has 38 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists for the Nets in the loss.

Gentry reiterated that he's got no hard feelings toward the Suns organization.

"I want the guys to be successful, you've got some good guys on this team," he said. "Jared Dudley and some of these guys are quality guys. Me personally, you don't pull against guys like that."

Vince Marotta, Web Content Editor - ArizonaSports.com

3 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
  • Add A Comment 
  • Abuse
    Rainex80 wrote...
    lose lose
    That question doesnt benefit anyone. He says yes, then hes ripped on and asked if it got in the way of him coaching. If he says no then hes hounded with questions if he thinks hunter should even be head coach right now.
  • Abuse
    Tom S. wrote...
    He's only an interim
    It's not like they inked Hunter to a 6 year contract. Majerle's never coached a regular season game either. I'm not happy to see him go, but are the Suns really worse off? At this point, you want to lose every game and get the most ping pong balls you can and who better to lead the team to do that? Just don't get stupid and start dealing your draft picks to try to suck less this year.
  • Abuse
    Lee A. wrote...
    Silence = Answer
    Gentry's response to the question tells you pretty much what you need to know about the situation. Hunter has been hanging around, more or less in the background, for months in the role of "player development" (I thought that was the job of the coaching staff). How comfortable could Gentry have felt under those circumstances?
Standings
Schedule
Team Leaders
close

Share: