The Phoenix Suns have chosen Jordan Ott, assistant coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, as their next head coach, according to sources close to the franchise.
Ott and Johnnie Bryant, also an assistant with the Cavaliers, were the finalists for the position. They met with Suns owner Mat Ishbia, CEO Josh Bartelstein, and general manager Brian Gregory in Michigan. The front office focused on Ott and Bryant, who joined the Cavaliers last summer. The decision to hire Ott was backed by ownership and management.Devin Booker, a key figure for the Suns, participated in the selection process and also chose Ott as his first option.
Ott has been an assistant in the NBA since 2012, known for his solid offensive and defensive strategies, his focus on player development, and his ability to strengthen the team. He is recognized for his ability to communicate with players and technical staff, and for his dedication to the study of trends and tactical adjustments. Following the firing of Mike Budenholzer on April 14 and the appointment of Gregory as the new general manager on May 1, the Suns began the search for a coach. Gregory led a process that included more than 15 initial interviews. A group of eight candidates had second-round meetings, before six (Bryant, Ott, Chris Quinn from Miami, Sean Sweeney from Dallas, Dave Bliss from Oklahoma City, and David Fizdale, a current staff member) advanced to in-person visits with the franchise’s executives last week.The Cavaliers, who had the best record in the Eastern Conference with 64 wins this season, are losing one of their top assistants. The Cavaliers led in offensive efficiency and ranked eighth in defensive efficiency this season.
Ott has also been part of the coaching staff for the Atlanta Hawks (2013-16), Brooklyn Nets (2016-22), and Los Angeles Lakers (2022-24). Bryant has also been an assistant for the Utah Jazz (2012-20) and New York Knicks (2020-24). Bryant played in college at Utah from 2005 to 2008, and Ott was a video coordinator with the Michigan State men’s basketball program under Tom Izzo from 2008 to 2013. With the hiring of the coach defined, the Suns now begin the offseason of changes in the roster. The Suns will work with All-Star forward Kevin Durant and his business partner and CEO of Boardroom, Rich Kleiman, on his next destination. He is expected to have a robust market of approximately four to six teams seriously interested this offseason.
