Who is Igor Kokoškov and why is he historically significant in the NBA?
Igor Kokoškov, born on the 17th of December 1971 in Serbia, became the first non-American to serve as a full-time assistant coach in the NBA, joining the Los Angeles Clippers in 2000. He later became the first non-American assistant to win an NBA championship, with the Detroit Pistons in 2004, and the first head coach born and raised outside of North America to be hired by an NBA team, when the Phoenix Suns appointed him in 2018.
What was Igor Kokoškov's record as head coach of the Phoenix Suns?
Kokoškov went 19-63 in his single season as Phoenix Suns head coach, a record tied for the second-worst in the league that year. He was fired on the 22nd of April 2019 after one season.
Did Igor Kokoškov win EuroBasket 2017 with Slovenia?
Yes. Kokoškov coached the Slovenian men's national team to the gold medal at EuroBasket 2017. He had been appointed head coach on the 18th of January 2016 on the recommendation of Božidar Maljković, and his contract ended immediately after the tournament.
What ended Igor Kokoškov's basketball playing career?
A near-fatal automobile accident in 1990 shattered Kokoškov's knee and ended his playing career. He turned to coaching shortly after, and by age 24 had become the youngest coach in Yugoslavian basketball history.
What award did Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili give Igor Kokoškov?
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili honored Kokoškov with an Order of Honour, Georgia's highest civilian award, on the 18th of December 2011. Kokoškov had served as head coach of the Georgian men's national basketball team since April 2008.
What was Igor Kokoškov's coaching record at Fenerbahçe Beko?
Kokoškov went 20-14 in the EuroLeague and 22-8 in the Turkish domestic league during his single season with Fenerbahçe Beko in 2020-21. His EuroLeague run ended when his team was swept in the playoffs by CSKA Moscow, and his domestic run ended in a sweep by Anadolu Efes in the Turkish League finals.