Feb 6, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic head coach James Borrego talks with guard Elfrid Payton (4) against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
James Borrego will remain the head coach of the Orlando Magic through the end of the season, according to a report by ESPN.
The Magic has also hired a new lead assistant coach in Igor Kokoskov, according to the Orlando Sentinel’s Josh Robbins.
Borrego is 2-2 as Orlando’s head coach since the team fired Jacque Vaughn. They beat the Lakers 103-97 in Borrego’s coaching debut before back-to-back defeats against Chicago and Washington. However, the Magic rebounded to beat the Knicks 89-83 in their final game before the all-star break.
“The approach for me and our staff is going to continue to be the same: to work every day, to get better every day, to help these guys grow every day on the floor and in that locker room,” Borrego told the Orlando Sentinel.
“So nothing changes for us. Our mentality is to get better, to go after every win the rest of the year and to build on what we’ve done to this point and get better from here.”
The Magic will search for a permanent coach in the summer when there could potentially be other candidates available once the playoffs end. However, it seems that the early candidates include Vinny Del Negro, Mark Jackson, Mike Malone and Scott Skiles. Borrego will also reportedly be considered for the full-time job.
George Karl is no longer an option after taking the Sacramento Kings job Tuesday.
Kokoskov has spent the last 15 years working as an assistant coach in the NBA with the Clippers, Pistons, Suns and most recently the Cavaliers.
Orlando seems to be considered an attractive job due to the youth and talent the current roster possesses, including Victor Oladipo, Tobias Harris, Elfrid Payton and Nikola Vucevic among others.