Michigan State ties make Suns fans skeptical about hiring of head coach Jordan Ott
Fair or not, Phoenix Suns fans can't overlook the ties to Michigan State with the hire of head coach Jordan Ott.
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Jordan Ott may have a less substantial resume compared to other reported candidates who were not hired to become the next Phoenix Suns head coach.
But it isn’t an unqualified hire.
Risky? Possibly.
More egregious on paper because of his ties to Michigan State that are shared with current Suns owner Mat Ishbia and general manager Brian Gregory? For sure.
Ott, who will follow a series of three head coaches who had NBA Finals experience, has been an NBA assistant for a decade now, serving under head coaches Kenny Atkinson (Cavaliers and Nets), Darvin Ham (Lakers), Jacque Vaughn (Nets) and Steve Nash (Nets).
Prior to that, he was recently fired Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer’s video coordinator for the Atlanta Hawks.
For all we know, Ott is plenty qualified. According to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro, he got approval from star Devin Booker and impressed Nash, whose two MVPs in Phoenix carry some weight here. But the deeper ties to the Spartans and the latest Phoenix casualty at least look weird.
Suns fans were already apprehensive about the downward direction of the team. It grew with the hiring of Gregory, a former college coach who had just two years of NBA front office experience, and from the lengthy month of whittling down the head-coaching candidates.
Many of those coaches were the top assistants on their bench. To that point, Phoenix’s other finalist, Johnnie Bryant, was the associate head coach for Cleveland, ahead of Ott in the pecking order. And it didn’t help from a public relations standpoint the New York Knicks opened their coaching job Tuesday by firing Tom Thibodeau, with many New York publications pointing to Bryant as a favorite potential candidate.
That has not changed with the Ott hiring. And now it’ll be on the Suns and him to win and reshape opinions.
Suns fans react to the hiring of head coach Jordan Ott
Sorry, Jordan Ott, we already hate you and it’s 100% not your fault. I wish you the best and I hope you prove everyone why you were the right hire because you are starting in the red.
— A N D Y P A G E (@andypage117) June 4, 2025
Cleveland did well. I guess we Ott to see what happens this next season.
— Daniel M. (@d_metz13) June 4, 2025
I have not been this excited since Terry Porter and Lindsey Hunter. Did you hear the Gorillas has been replaced with the Michigan State Spartan?
— Toshiro Takashi (@itsmetoshiro) June 4, 2025
Give him a chance let’s see what happens
— BrendanPHX (@BrendanPHX) June 4, 2025
When do we get the Spartan Green colored Suns Alternate jerseys?
— Colby B (@brownc74) June 4, 2025
Why do I get the feeling he was @Suns 2nd choice & Johnnie Bryant will head to @nyknicks??
— Greg Mills (@GregMillsTVNews) June 4, 2025
Let’s be honest, those who are lifelong Suns fans will be here no matter the coach. I just want to see more heart and effort given, especially on the defensive end, on a nightly basis. pic.twitter.com/7YPWhhBhIG
— Corby Dickerson (@corbydickerson) June 4, 2025
They were all align all along. They told us this over a month ago what was going to happen.
— Horror Hooligan (@KayGee19) June 4, 2025
nepotism
— Ryan T. (@wutang976) June 4, 2025
Can’t wait to find out how the Suns get Jaren Jackson Jr, Draymond Green, Miles Bridges, Jase Richardson, Xavier Tillman, Gary Harris, and Max Christie.
— Mike Vigil (@protectedpick) June 4, 2025
— Matthew I (@jszixxer) June 4, 2025
He’s been an assistant for 10+ years under multiple good coaches. He seems like he could be good for us, I just wish there weren’t Michican St ties, cause that’s all anyone is gonna mention, till he proves otherwise, that he got this job due to having ties to that school.
— Justin B. (@BringTheHeatAZ) June 4, 2025
Budenholzer V2
— Boat Rocker (free/sovereign) (@PhukUrFewlings) June 4, 2025
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Comments
7 Comments
Imagie being a middle aged man who makes his entire personality the couple years he spent in college 20+ years ago.
I was excited when Ishbia bought this team after the Sarver nightmare, but this offseason has proven he isn't as serious about winning as we though he was, seems like he is just looking to give out jobs to friends and family.
I'm not so concerned about it cuz the last 2 dudes weren't MSU guys and they couldn't get the job done.
I guess this is another definition of going green,!
I just don’t understand why he thinks Michigan State basketball is a source of successful people. It’s not. Izzo is good, but he’s not great. and neither are any of the players that he coached. The very few that went to the NBA ate average or below average. Draymond Green is OK but that boy needs to be on medication instead of playing in the NBA.