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Dan Majerle visited the Arizona Sports 620 studios to talk about being passed over for the Suns head coaching job and his exit from the organization. (Photo: Vince Marotta/Arizona Sports)
listen Listen: Dan Majerle, former Suns assistant coach
Dan talks to Doug & Wolf about the interview process, how he wishes Elston Turner would've been offered the interim coaching position, where things went wrong under Alvin Gentry, and his desire to coach in the future.

The smoke has cleared, Alvin Gentry is gone and Lindsey Hunter is the interim head coach of the Phoenix Suns. A 17-year NBA veteran with no coaching experience, Hunter will get a 41-game audition for the rest of what's been a forgettable season for the team.

That doesn't sit well with many people, including former Suns assistant coach Dan Majerle.

Majerle, who spent four and a half seasons on Gentry's coaching staff before parting ways with the organization earlier this week, visited the studios of Arizona Sports 620 Wednesday, and had a lot to say in his interview with Doug and Wolf.

"I think the right move would have been to hire Elston Turner," Majerle said. "I understand change, I understand the firing of Alvin -- I'm not saying it was Alvin's fault that we had won 13 games. That in no way shape or form was all Alvin's fault, at all. I think Alvin is a great coach and everybody knows he's a great guy who was really good for this team.

"But when you are 13-28 or whatever you are, things are going to change -- usually the head coach. I understand that, I've been through that as a player, I've seen coaches go, I understand that."

Turner was in his second season as a Suns assistant, but had spent 14 seasons as an NBA assistant for the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets. He too was bypassed for the interim job and his employment status with the team is still undetermined.

"What I didn't understand was it's usually standard operating procedure at that point that the lead assistant gets (the interim job). We're talking about Elston Turner, the guy who's coached for 14 years, has played in this league," Majerle said. "I have nothing but the greatest respect for him as a coach and a man and the way he goes about his business, and the respect that he had with his players.

"That being said, when he didn't get it, I said 'okay, then give me a shot.' I've been here for five and a half years, I've been in the league for over 25 years, I've been here since '88, I've put in my time, coached the Summer League, worked my tail off -- give me a shot at it."

Majerle, along with Hunter, Turner and fellow assistant Igor Kokoskov all got interviews with general manager Lance Blanks and president of basketball operations Lon Babby, but it ultimately was Hunter that got the post.

"To be bypassed, not only me, but Elston as well, to be bypassed by a guy who wasn't even on the coaching staff? I don't know if Lindsey is going to be a good coach. Maybe he is, I hope he is because first and foremost I hope this team is successful because I love the players -- I've got a lot of respect for the players."

But Majerle wasn't done.

"That's what really made me mad, is they said it would have been the easy thing to do is give Dan the job -- and I heard Lon before, because of my popularity and because I'm in the Ring of Honor. Never once did I hear him say that I was qualified to be a coach, which I took offense to. I thought I'd be a great coach. I thought I did a great job with the Summer League."

According to reports, Majerle will receive his full salary for the remainder of the season.

Vince Marotta, Web Content Editor - ArizonaSports.com

14 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
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  • Abuse
    Whatashame wrote...
    It is not the lack of success
    with the Suns. It is the lack of class that has the fans upset. Sarver, et al, are showing that they simply have no clue as to how to handle the lack of winning during the period which a team has to go through when it is time to rebuild. It is too bad for people such as Gentry and Majerle that they happen to be right in the center of this dysfunctional mess. I feel for them given the time they have put in for this organization and then to be treated like crap by management.
  • Abuse
    JW L. wrote...
    Did anyone else think
    ..that Dan Majerle was way more coherent and believable than Lance Blanks and Lon Babby? I still remember Babby assuring us all last year that there was no way they would let Nash go, followed by the summer of letting Nash go. Dan just seems a heck of a lot more honest to me.
  • Abuse
    Mike K. wrote...
    The Phoenix Suns
    The subject line should say, The Phoenix Sunsets. I am totally done with this team. I will not watch on tv, or even listen to them or Lon Babby on the radio. Dan Majerle and Alvin Gentry were done a favor by this dysfunctional organization.The sad thing is, that this owner is ruining the franchise and eventully these guys could call Sacramento home and Phoenix could end up without and NBA team. Jerry Colangelo must be really sad about these events. I guess I will just become an Oklahoma City fan. When does baseball start?
  • Abuse
    TheNewOriginal wrote...
    What a shame...
    what this new regime has done to this once proud organization. No loyalty exists anymore. To pass over a Phx Suns Icon and not even give him the respect is a slap in the face not only to him but all us loyal fans. I think this group of outsiders is trying to rid any assemblance of the past and put their stamp going forward. I wouldnt be surprised if Eddie, Chambers, and Al McCoy will be shown the door or even would want to stay. Truley a shame!
  • Abuse
    azgbayfan wrote...
    Figures!
    Classy is not an adjective for the Suns FO. All Babby and Blanks wanted to talk about is Hunters skills and his competitive nature. I doubt if Hunter can hold a candle to Thunder Dan when it comes to competing
  • Abuse
    nonsoon wrote...
    thanks Dan
    ...for coming on the radio and opening up. You are a true Phx Sun through and through. You will always be in the hearts of true fans and I respect your decision to walk away. You are like us fans...you're not a quitter you just know that this ownership in no way represents what we have all come to expect from our team.
  • Abuse
    johnnyb588 wrote...
    Last time I checked
    GM's were allowed to hire whatever coach they want. I'm failing to see the issue here. I'm also failing to see why so many fans blame Sarver.
  • Abuse
    nonsoon wrote...
    Suns fans..
    Can you say organizational advocacy ten times fast? I can't.
  • Abuse
    SurpriseMe wrote...
    majerle
    Majerle you need to put together investors to buy the team. Let the fans pinch in with some money to make it happen. We would love to see Majerle as the owner.
  • Abuse
    CactusJack99 wrote...
    Pure and simple...
    Dan was believable and sounded honest. Babby and Blanks did not. At one point during the Babby/Blanks interview, they indicated that Hunter has received a lot of criticism for not having a plan, and they used that to support that they didn't have an agenda for putting him in. If he didn't have a plan, HOW IN THE WORLD did he get the job???
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