PHOENIX – The month-long coaching search for the Phoenix Suns fourth head coach in four years ended with Jordan Ott coming out victorious. The former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant was an underdog when process first began but survived through the multiple rounds of interviews, until it was Ott and his fellow Cavaliers assistant Johnnie Bryant.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!After an in-person interview with owner Mat Ishbia, Ott was elected to become the 23rd head coach in franchise history. General manager Brian Gregory and guard Devin Booker all approved Ott to take on the role, a job that he called “a dream come true” in his first statement since the hire.
Feb 25, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy (left) and Jordan Ott against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Ott on getting the Suns job:
Ott is from McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania and has had basketball surrounded him his entire life. He followed the game into college, where he was a video coordinator for Michigan State, while getting his Master’s degree. Ott worked in the college level until getting his first opportunity in 2018 with Kenny Atkinson’s’ staff with the Brooklyn Nets.
Feb 25, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Jordan Ott against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Through his seven years being an assistant, Ott has coached with the Nets, Los Angles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers. His best season was last year with the Cavaliers, as they haled the best record in the Eastern Conference. Ott is praised for his offensive creativity by fellow assistants and is joining the long line of young assistant coaches to take the step on becoming a head coach.
Fans are skeptical how the young coach will respond to his NBA head coaching debut. However, Ott closed out his official statement ensuring that he will put a product of basketball on the court that fans will be proud of, which the Suns weren’t able to do all last season.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
