Phoenix Suns Hire Jordan Ott as New Head Coach: A Fresh Start for the Team?

The Phoenix Suns have made a bold move in their quest for a new identity, announcing the hiring of Jordan Ott as their new head coach. The announcement was first reported by ESPN's Shams Charania on Wednesday, as the Suns look to rebound from their shocking playoff miss last season. Ott was chosen over fellow former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Johnnie Bryant, who also interviewed for the position. The Suns also interviewed active assistant coaches Chris Quinn from Miami, Dave Bliss from Oklahoma City, and Sean Sweeney from Dallas. According to Charania, Suns star Devin Booker was heavily involved in the coaching search and gave his approval on Ott. Ott began his coaching career with the Atlanta Hawks as a video coordinator from 2013-2016. He then had his first assistant role with the Brooklyn Nets, working under coaches Kenny Atkinson, Steve Nash, and Jacque Vaughn. In 2022, Ott left Brooklyn to join Darvin Ham's coaching staff with the Los Angeles Lakers. He reunited with Atkinson in Cleveland this season as the Cavaliers secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a 64-18 record. Last season, Phoenix had a disastrous campaign despite having the most expensive roster in the NBA, featuring Kevin Durant, Booker, and Bradley Beal. The frustrating season ended with a 34-46 record and their first playoff miss since 2020. With the hiring of Ott, the Suns are looking to change their fortunes and find a coach that can help them return to their winning ways. In addition to the coaching change, Phoenix will begin its first season under new GM Brian Gregory, who was promoted two weeks after Mike Budenholzer's dismissal in April. In his introductory press conference, Gregory promised to change the team's identity and find a good-fitting coach. While the Suns are likely to make drastic changes to their roster, with Durant almost certainly on the move, they have had notably bad luck with coaches as Ott becomes their fourth in four seasons. With a new coach and GM at the helm, the Phoenix Suns are looking to turn things around and return to their winning ways. The future is uncertain for the team, but with a fresh start and a new identity, they are hoping to make a splash in the NBA once again.