PHOENIX – There’s a difference between a bad decision and a deliberate one. That’s the space ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith stepped into when he argued that Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo’s passing on the Phoenix Suns job wasn’t a mistake; it was a reflection of priorities.
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Michigan State’s head coach Tom Izzo calls out to players during the second half in the game against Michigan on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor. © Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
At face value, Suns fans had reason to feel uneasy at those comments. Phoenix, widely projected as a team with many issues at the beginning of this season, has instead climbed into the West’s 7th spot, firmly in the play-in mix. It signals structural resilience with top-10 efficiency stretches, improved rotational depth, and late-game shot creation that’s trending upward, especially in a loaded Western Conference.
Mar 24, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) and guard Jalen Green (4) against the Denver Nuggets at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
But Stephen A Smith believes Izzo’s decision not to coach the Phoenix Suns was for different reasons. College basketball has transformed immensely in recent years. The transfer portal and NIL deals have turned roster building into a year-round negotiation. Yet for a coach like Izzo, who has built decades of institutional trust, those changes still exist within a system he understands and controls. In the NBA, that control evaporates. Player empowerment, front office dynamics, and championship-or-bust timelines compress patience into months, not years. That’s the strategic core of Smith’s point that success isn’t just about opportunity, it’s about alignment.
Oct 23, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Stephen A. Smith (Stephen Smith) on the ESPN NBA Countdown live set at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
For Suns fans, the takeaway isn’t disrespect, it’s validation. Phoenix didn’t need a legacy college coach to stabilize its trajectory. Instead, its current rise suggests something more sustainable: internal adaptability.
Both sides may have gone the right way. Izzo preserves his legacy ecosystem. The Suns, meanwhile, are quietly building one of the West’s most intriguing late-season stories, with no outside rescue required.
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
