PHOENIX – Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott continues to add to his coaching staff with 11-year NBA veteran Mike Muscala. The 34-year-old center played with seven teams over his decade-long career, last playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder at the end of the 2023-2024 season. This will be Muscala’s first coaching job, as Ott continues to add NBA veterans to his staff.
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Apr 14, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Mike Muscala (50) walks down the court after his team defeated the Dallas Mavericks at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Suns Ott continues to build his staff:
Known assistants for next season:
- DeMarre Carroll
- Jesse Mermuys
- Brian Randle
- John Little
- Chaisson Allen
- Mike Muscala
Mar 22, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Oklahoma City Thunder center Mike Muscala (50) during warm up before a game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Muscala is the second 10+ year veteran to join Ott’s staff, the other being Carroll. It seems the new Suns coach is striving to build a relationship between his staff and the players via a shared NBA experience. Building a relationship amongst coaches and players become easier with a staff filled with assistants who played at their level.
Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro reported that the franchise is also adding another ex-NBA player in Mateen Cleaves as a player development, following the footsteps of Carroll and Muscala. Ott is building a staff that is mixed with NBA coaching experience, like with Mermuys, and veterans to build a nice balance in perspectives for the first-time head coach.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
