Phoenix Suns And The Ryan McDonough Era

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

In the midst of another losing season, the Phoenix Suns face missing out on the playoffs for the seventh straight season. Therefore, the performance of general manager Ryan McDonough deserves to come into focus.

Ryan McDonough was hired by the Phoenix Suns as the team’s general manager following a tumultuous 25-57 season.

McDonough learned from the best,  having spent 10 years working in the front office of the Boston Celtics, where his last three seasons in Boston were in the role of assistant general manager to the Celtics’ president of basketball operations, Danny Ainge.

Upon his arrival, McDonough’s first task at hand was the appointment of the team’s head coach. The previous season, the Suns experienced a coach being fired mid-season in Alvin Gentry, followed by the interim appointment of the divisive Lindsay Hunter.

McDonough’s choice was  Jeff Hornacek, pointing out at the time:

"“Jeff has all of the qualities we were looking for in a head coach—he is a leader, a teacher and a student of the game. Jeff’s name has been high on our list ever since my first interview with the Suns.”"

The first season under McDonough’s watch was a resounding success. Despite missing out on the playoffs, the Suns recorded a 48-34 record and far exceeded expectations. Point guard Goran Dragic won the league’s most improved player award and was named to the All-NBA third team.

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Naturally when the following season arrived, expectations internally and externally had already shifted.

But it was the summer of 2014 that would signal the beginning of a downward spiral from which the Suns have yet to recover.