The Phoenix Suns have promoted assistant coach and former NBA player Earl Watson to interim head coach, a league source told Yahoo Sports.
The Suns fired Jeff Hornacek late Sunday night night after a 91-78 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Hornacek compiled a 101-112 record in two-plus seasons coaching the Suns, who have lost 19 of 21 games.
Watson will make his head-coaching debut Tuesday night when the Suns (14-25) host the Toronto Raptors.
Watson, 36, was hired as an assistant coach under Hornacek on June 4 and was promoted on Dec. 28 after assistant coaches Jerry Sichting and Mike Longabardi were fired. Watson began coaching professionally last season with the San Antonio Spurs’ NBA Development League affiliate in Austin. The Suns also considered assistant coaches Cory Gaines and Nate Bjorkgren for the interim opening.
Watson was primarily a reserve point guard for 13 NBA seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics, Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers. The Kansas City, Kan., native turned down opportunities to continue playing in the NBA before the 2014-15 season to pursue coaching.
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