In a move that's undoubtedly meant to shuffle the deck chairs, the Phoenix Suns are hedging their bets on Jordan Ott to steer the ship as their new head coach. After the disappointing tumble to a 36-46 record this past season, the Suns parted ways with Mike Budenholzer and kicked off what became a head coach carousel, installing Ott as the fourth head coach in as many seasons. FOX 10 Phoenix reports that, according to ESPN's Shams Charania, Ott will be leaving his assistant post at the Cleveland Cavaliers to take the reins in Phoenix.
Not just a snap decision, the Suns explored more than a dozen potential coaches before laying their chips on Ott. He's penned a four-year deal with the team, signaling a bit of commitment from an organization that's had a tad too much turnover lately. According to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro, Ott was chosen over fellow Cavs assistant Johnnie Bryant. The Cavs, under the direction of Ott and his colleagues, racked up an impressive 64 wins last season, though they fell short in the Eastern Conference semifinals against a surging Indiana Pacers team, as reported by PHNX Sports.
Ott isn't new to the coaching rodeo – his journey began in 2013 as a video coordinator for the Atlanta Hawks, under the Suns’ last coach, Mike Budenholzer. He's made the rounds at the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers before landing back at the Cleveland Cavaliers with Kenny Atkinson last season. It’s clear that Ott has been marinating in a variety of coaching flavors, which the Suns hope can translate into success for a team thirsting for consistency and wins.
One can't miss the Michigan State thread in this tapestry. Ott is a Michigan State alumnus and earned his coaching spurs under Tom Izzo from 2008-2013. Notably, Suns owner Mat Ishbia is also a Michigan State alumnus, and earlier, he hired Brian Gregory, yet another former Michigan State assistant coach, as the Suns’ new general manager. This has set the tongues wagging about potential favoritism towards their alma mater, but the organization insists the hiring process was comprehensive and diligent.
