The Phoenix Suns are looking for their all-time greatest head coach. Mike D’Antoni’s entry into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame has sparked the question. The Arizona Republic has chosen John MacLeod, Cotton Fitzsimmons, Monty Williams, Paul Westphal and D’Antoni as the top contenders.
Who are the contenders?
John MacLeod, the longest tenured coach in franchise history, coached the Suns to their first NBA Finals in 1976. He preached professionalism, fundamentals, teamwork, unselfishness and being well-conditioned. His teams averaged 108.6 points a game and led the NBA in defensive rating twice.
What about Cotton Fitzsimmons?
Cotton Fitzsimmons had three different stints with the Suns, his best being a four-year run from 1988 to 1992. Phoenix reached the conference finals in 1989 and 1990, losing to the Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers, respectively. Those teams were nicknamed “The Cotton Express” for their high-scoring offenses. The Suns led the NBA in scoring in 1988-89 at 118.6 points a game.
Recent Performance
Last result: Phoenix Suns 122-131 Oklahoma City Thunder (2026-04-28). Recent form (last 5): 1W-0D-4L (LLLLW, most recent first); lost the last 4. The Suns will look to turn their season around with a new coach at the helm.
Coaching Legacy
The poll will remain open until Aug. 25 at 12:30 p.m. Print readers can find the poll online with this story at azcentral.com/sports/suns-nba/. John MacLeod, Cotton Fitzsimmons, Monty Williams, Paul Westphal and Mike D’Antoni are all in the running for the title of greatest Phoenix Suns head coach. The winner will be announced after the poll closes. The Phoenix Suns have a rich history of talented coaches, and this poll is a great way to recognize their contributions. The team is looking forward to seeing who will be voted as the greatest coach in franchise history. And with the new season approaching, the Suns are hoping to make a deep run in the playoffs. But for now, they are focused on finding their all-time greatest head coach. So, who will it be? Only time will tell. The poll is open now, and fans can vote for their favorite coach. The Phoenix Suns are excited to see who will be chosen as the greatest coach in franchise history. The team has a long history of success, and this poll is a great way to recognize the coaches who have contributed to that success. The Suns will continue to work towards their goal of winning a championship, and this poll is just one part of that process. The team is looking forward to the future, and they are excited to see who will be chosen as the greatest coach in franchise history.
