Terry Porter has been fired as coach of the NBA basketball side, the Phoenix Suns despite the team's winning record.
Assistant coach Alvin Gentry has been promoted into the top spot.
Porter becomes only the second NBA coach in the past half-century to be fired with so strong a record, the other being Don Nelson with New York in 1996.
The Suns are 28 and 23 but a disappointing ninth in the Western Conference given such talent as Amare Stoudemire, reported to be on the trading block, and former league Most Valuable Players Shaquille O'Neal and Steve Nash.
Phoenix fired Mike D'Antoni before the season over a clash of ideas with general manager Steve Kerr and the Suns hired Porter to help transition the team into a more defense-minded squad compared to a past high-tempo emphasis.
Gentry was 177 and 226 in prior NBA stints as coach of the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Clippers.
