"Somebody I wish I could play college basketball for": $50m worth Devin Booker gushes over new BYU HC Kevin Young
Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker has nothing but love for former Suns assistant Kevin Young, who`s going to be the new coach of BYU men's basketball. The Cougars hired Young on Wednesday to replace Mark Pope, who moved on to coach the Kentucky Wildcats.
Here's what the $50 million-worth NBA star (via ClutchPoints) said about BYU hiring Kevin Young:
"KYU. I'm just kidding. I'm excited for him and his family, man. (He's) somebody that I've developed a great relationship with. (He's) somebody that I wish I could've played college basketball for or have somebody like him recruit me.
"I'm keeping close eyes on that program and everything that he's doing. I know they're in really good hands. I know he got a good deal. So, it's good to see him and his family get taken care of."
The deal will pay Young $30 million over the contract's entire span, according to CBS Sports, although the length of the contract is unconfirmed. According to Sports Illustrated, his contract is for seven years. If so, the $30 million deal makes him one of the country's highest-paid head coaches at an estimated $4.2 million per year.
Kevin Young has been a part of the Phoenix Suns organization since 2020. He joined the team as an assistant and was eventually promoted to assistant head coach alongside head coach Frank Vogel a year later.
With the hire, Young takes over a program that saw two NCAA Tournament appearances under Pope, including earning a 6-seed in this year's Big Dance.
More background on Kevin Young
The coaching pedigree of Kevin Young can go unnoticed, but don't let that fool anyone. He's had some major experience. most notably in the NBA, and being the head coach of a Division 1 men's basketball team requires that kind of elite-level experience.
For one, Young was a finalist to take over as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, before they hired Jordi Fernandez to replace Jacque Vaughn, according to the New York Post. Aside from that, he was also the NBA's highest-paid assistant, and Devin Booker's testament to Young's skillset and character should be more than enough proof of his competence.