Open Thread: Brent Barry is leaving the Alamo City for the Valley of the Suns

The Spurs VP of basketball operations will be an assistant coach in Phoenix this season

Two-time NBA Champion Brent Barry has left his post as vice president of basketball operations for the San Antonio Spurs and is heading to Phoenix as an assistant coach of the Suns.

“Humbled and excited to be a part of the @Suns organization and appreciate so many that have a part in this step in a basketball journey that has not chapters but volumes to be written. Looking forward to the journey w/some incredible minds but moreover some incredible players.”

Barry joins former Spurs assistant coach Mike Budenholzer, who signed on as the Suns new head coach last May.

Previously, Coach “Bud” and “Bones” worked together on the Spurs. Barry played with the Silver & Black from 2004-2008, winning both of his rings here. Budenholzer was Pop’s assistant coach from 1996-2013, covering Barry’s entire tenure with the squad.

Barry shared the news in a pair of tweets announcing the move and thanking the Spurs.

“And to the @spurs organization-there aren’t words there is only what has already been shared. It is family and it is community and it is knowing that there is a life bigger than basketball. There is no place like SA and you helped raise three men, I am forever grateful.”

Barry joined the Spurs front office in 2018 and spent the last six years supporting arguably the most drastic changes to the team in decades.

Meanwhile, the Suns are slowly building a San Antonio Spurs coalition in Phoenix.

In addition to Budenholzer and Brent Barry, the coaching staff features Chad Forcier, San Antonio assistant coach from 2007-2016. He rejoins Coach Bud after assisting him in Milwaukee from 2019-2023.

With the blockbuster Kevin Durant trade in 2023 draining the Suns of four future first-round draft picks, Phoenix has been forced into a “win-now” mode.

After being swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the playoffs last season, they fired Frank Vogel, who coached the Lakers to the 2020 NBA Championship and hired Budenholzer, who was at the helm of the Bucks 2021 title, in which Milwaukee defeated the Phoenix Suns.

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.