It's official: Jordan Ott is the Phoenix Suns' next head coach, ending a nearly two-month search. He and Johnnie Bryant, both Cavaliers' assistants, were the finalists for the position, with Ott winning out.
Phoenix promoted Brian Gregory to GM a few weeks after its season ended, although he had only one year of front office experience. Gregory was an assistant on Tom Izzo's staff when Ishbia was a walk-on at Michigan State. Like Gregory and Ishbia, Ott has an MSU connection, as he served as a video coordinator for the men's basketball program from 2008 to 2013.
Ott, who is 40, began his NBA journey in 2013 as a video coordinator for the Hawks. He served as an assistant for the Nets from 2016 to 2022, then joined the Lakers' staff as an assistant from 2022 to 2024, and joined Kenny Atkinson's staff as an assistant in 2024. The Suns wanted a first-time head coach and got their wish in Ott.
Suns hire Cavs assistant Jordan Ott as their next head coach
ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Ott and Bryant met with Ishbia, Gregory, and Josh Bartelstein in Michigan on Tuesday. The front office decided the following day that it wanted to go with Ott. Devin Booker was also part of the process, declaring Ott as his first choice.
Although it's somewhat reassuring to know that Booker was part of the process, the hiring is still worrisome. It's impossible to ignore Ott's Michigan State link. Fans can't help but wonder if that gave Ott an edge over Bryant and the other candidates.
It's too early to write off Ott because he may prove to be the right coach for the Suns, but Ishbia doesn't have a promising track record as one of the top decision-makers. Phoenix has fired its head coaches over the past three years and hopes to end that trend with its newest head coach. Perhaps Ott will have a longer leash than the past two head coaches, who were one-and-done, given that the 2025-26 season will be his first time leading a team.
Hopefully, this doesn't end up being another decision that will come back to haunt the Suns. Ott's first head coaching gig won't be an easy one, as he'll be tasked with making Phoenix one of the top teams in a stacked Western Conference. Ishbia doesn't want a rebuild — he wants a championship. Ott will either sink or swim.