The Phoenix Suns have reportedly found their new head coach — their fourth in as many seasons.
Jordan Ott, most recently an assistant on the Cleveland Cavaliers, will be hired as the Suns coach, according to ESPN. The network also reported, citing anonymous sources, that Suns star guard Devin Booker was involved in the coaching search and had favored Ott as his top choice.
The Cavaliers, under coach Kenny Atkinson, posted a 64-18 record this season, best in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland excelled on both sides of the ball, leading the NBA in offensive rating (121.0) and third in net rating (9.2). The Cavaliers embraced spreading the floor and distributing the ball, but also oversaw the rise of forward Evan Mobley as an elite defender, leading to his winning the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Ott also served as an assistant for the Los Angeles Lakers (2022-24) under former coach Darvin Ham and the Nets (2016-22) — where Atkinson coached briefly during his time in Brooklyn.
Ott also was the video coordinator of the Atlanta Hawks, interestingly, under former Suns coach Mike Budenholzer, whom the Suns fired Monday, April 14.
Under Budenholzer, Phoenix struggled to gain traction in the Western Conference. The Suns, who have been led by the trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, finished 36-46, missing out on the play-in window. It marked the first time in four seasons that the franchise missed the playoffs.
Budenholzer had been Phoenix’s third coach in as many seasons — they also fired Monty Williams after the 2022-23 season and Frank Vogel after the 2023-24 campaign.
Ott will now oversee a team that may be facing some roster overhaul. The Durant-Booker-Beal simply has not yielded satisfactory results, especially considering the salary cap space devoted to the three. The Suns had the highest payroll in the NBA this season, which had the unintended consequence of stripping the team of depth.
Team owner Matt Ishbia has been very aggressive about investing money in his team and roster with the aim of bringing a championship to Phoenix.