Newly-appointed Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers added former Suns coach Alvin Gentry to his staff on Wednesday, according to The Arizona Republic's Paul Coro. Gentry will act as associate head coach and the top offensive mind for Rivers.
Alvin Gentry joins Doc Rivers’ Clippers staff as associate head coach
The former Phoenix Suns and Clippers coach returns to L.A. as Doc Rivers’ lead assistant.
Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE
Gentry will also bring a working knowledge of the Clippers organization to Rivers’ staff. He spent 2000-03 as the head coach in Los Angeles, and ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reports Rivers sought out Gentry soon after he agreed to take the job himself.
Clips Nation: More on the Clippers' new-look coaching staff
A finalist in the head-coaching searches in Memphis and Charlotte, Gentry turned down an offer to join the Los Angeles Lakers and former colleague Mike D'Antoni.
Gentry was also an early candidate in the Clippers’ head-coaching search.
Gentry was fired from the Suns on Jan. 18 after leading them to a 13-28 start to the season. He had been with Phoenix since 2003, when he joined D'Antoni's staff as an assistant. After D'Antoni left the Suns, Gentry served as Terry Porter's assistant for a brief time and took over as interim head coach once Porter was fired. Gentry was eventually hired full-time, with his tenure peaking in a 2010 Western Conference Finals playoff run led by Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire.
The pick-and-roll success Gentry found with the Nash and Stoudemire duo was likely heavily considered in the hire. The Clippers will likewise hope to find offensive success with and manage the egos of point guard Chris Paul and forward Blake Griffin.
Gentry agreed to a three-year deal.
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