Cody Toppert Joins Phoenix Suns Coaching Staff
June 27, 2018 - NBA G League (G League)
Northern Arizona Suns News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Northern Arizona Suns announced Wednesday that head coach Cody Toppert has been called up to join the Phoenix Suns coaching staff.
Toppert joins Phoenix Suns head coach Igor Kokoškov and his staff as Director of Player Development.
Toppert is the fourth coach in Northern Arizona Suns history to be called up to the NBA. The NAZ Suns inaugural head coach Ty Ellis, associate head coach Bret Burchard and assistant coach Brandon Rosenthal were all called up to the Phoenix Suns at the beginning of the 2017-18 campaign.
Toppert spent one season at the helm for the NAZ Suns, officially hired on the day of the team's 2017-18 season opener. Under his watch, the NAZ Suns set a new team record for wins in a season with 23, finishing the year 23-27 (.460).
A team-record five players were called up to an NBA roster under Toppert in 2017-18. Isaiah Canaan signed with the Suns, Derrick Jones Jr. was called up by the Miami Heat, Josh Gray joined the Suns, Shaquille Harrison signed with the Suns and Xavier Silas was called up by the Boston Celtics. The five players called up to the NBA marked the most unique player call-ups any NBA G League team had last season.
Known for his offensive prowess, Toppert boosted the Suns on that end of the floor immediately. The NAZ Suns quickly set numerous offensive records, finishing tops in the league in three-point makes per game (14.9) and second in scoring (119.3 points per game).
A Cornell graduate, Toppert spent three years coaching in the NBA G League, serving as an assistant coach for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers from 2015-17. He also played one year in the league, winning the title with the Albuquerque Thunderbirds in 2006.
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NBA G League Stories from June 27, 2018
- Cody Toppert Joins Phoenix Suns Coaching Staff - Northern Arizona Suns
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