The warm weather wins again as yet another Raptors 905 head coach has left the G League to join a Western Conference NBA team.
Less than a year after former 905 head coach Jama Mahlalela left the Raptors organization to join the Golden State Warriors as their Director of Player Development, his successor, Patrick Mutombo, has accepted an assistant coaching position with the Phoenix Suns.
Raptors 905 G League head coach Patrick Mutombo is joining the Phoenix Suns as an assistant coach, sources tell ESPN. Mutombo had previously served as an assistant with Toronto and Denver.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 14, 2022
In his two seasons at the helm, Coach Mutombo lead the Raptors 905 to first place in the G League Eastern Conference, and most recently to the best record in the G League at 24 and 8.
Under Mutombo’s tutelage the Raptors 905 saw 5 NBA call-ups including Gary Payton II, Henry Ellenson, Alize Johnson, Nik Stauskas, and Reggie Perry.
The head coach’s absence will be felt throughout the organization, from his coaching staff to his players.
“Coach Mutombo is extremely invested in winning for everyone involved in the organization he’s with,” says Assistant Coach John Bennett “He knows how life-changing winning can be for players and staff and as a result is relentlessly committed to the success of the team he’s coaching.”
Mutombo’s tenacity and desire to win inspired his players to take the same approach, allowing them to learn more about who they are off the court along the way, as was evident in the progress of two-way forward Justin Champagnie.
“Coach Mutombo was the best.” Champagnie tells Raptors Republic “He helped me find love in the game again. He helped me learn how to be a professional and helped me learn how to give it my all every time I step on that court.”
It is unclear who will replace Coach Mutombo for the 2022-2023 G League season, or for NBA Summer League in July.
Best of luck to Coach Patrick Mutombo and his family on their new adventure.
