Suns will run basketball operations for Bakersfield Jam
They will have a hybrid affiliation
The Suns always could send their people to D-League Bakersfield in recent years but now they will have their people running the basketball side there.
The Suns' hybrid affiliation with Bakersfield was announced officially Tuesday, giving Phoenix control of the basketball operations of the Bakersfield Jam while the D-League franchise's ownership continues to manage the business and community sides.
The Suns are putting Bubba Burrage, their head pro personnel scout for three years, in charge of Bakersfield as general manager in addition to continuing his scouting duties. Burrage has worked in NBA scouting, coaching, video and front offices for 21 years.
The Suns selected Nate Bjorkgren to coach Bakersfield, which has been a shared D-League affiliate for the Suns since 2011. In his first season with the Iowa Energy last season, Bjorkgren led the team to a 31-19 season a year after it had gone 14-36. Three of his players -- Diante Garrett, Jarvis Varnado and Othyus Jeffers -- received NBA call-ups. In his previous two seasons as the head coach for Golden State's D-League affiliate, Bjorkgren's teams went 61-39 with a 2013 D-League championship for Santa Cruz.
Bjorkgren has some Arizona roots, having started his basketball coaching career as the Cave Creek Cactus Shadows High School coach from 2004 to 2007. He left the program to become an assistant coach for the Iowa Energy.
The Suns' hybrid affiliation with Bakersfield was announced officially Tuesday, giving Phoenix control of the basketball operations of the Bakersfield Jam while the D-League franchise's ownership continues to manage the business and community sides.
The Suns are putting Bubba Burrage, their head pro personnel scout for three years, in charge of Bakersfield as general manager in addition to continuing his scouting duties. Burrage has worked in NBA scouting, coaching, video and front offices for 21 years.
The Suns selected Nate Bjorkgren to coach Bakersfield, which has been a shared D-League affiliate for the Suns since 2011. In his first season with the Iowa Energy last season, Bjorkgren led the team to a 31-19 season a year after it had gone 14-36. Three of his players -- Diante Garrett, Jarvis Varnado and Othyus Jeffers -- received NBA call-ups. In his previous two seasons as the head coach for Golden State's D-League affiliate, Bjorkgren's teams went 61-39 with a 2013 D-League championship for Santa Cruz.
Bjorkgren has some Arizona roots, having started his basketball coaching career as the Cave Creek Cactus Shadows High School coach from 2004 to 2007. He left the program to become an assistant coach for the Iowa Energy.
O. Cauchi
@paxer89
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