After several rounds of interviews with a handful of deserving candidates for over two weeks, the Phoenix Suns finally rested on Jordan Ott as their new head coach last week. It was a move that deviated from the Suns’ theme of hiring proven, experienced coaches with championship pedigrees. It was a theme they had adhered to with their two previous hires. Instead, Ott’s addition continues a growing trend in the NBA of hiring younger coaches with no head coaching experience but who have earned their badges as assistants, landing them the job. Overwhelmingly, Ott’s hire has garnered significant support from around the league, including several former head coaches, among others.
Suns’ Jordan Ott Hire Earns Raving Support from Coaching Ranks
The Phoenix Suns continue a growing league-wide trend with Jordan Ott hire
If it sounds familiar to many, it should. Ott’s time spent as a video coordinator mirrors Erik Spoelstra’s beginnings with the Miami Heat before he was handed the keys. Ott held the same position within the college space under legendary head coach Tom Izzo with Michigan State. His time under Izzo eventually paved the way for his entrance into the NBA. With the Atlanta Hawks, Ott again filled the role of video coordinator. Eventually, he went on to serve under some other notable names. Those names have recently spoken out in their support for the Suns’ new hire, with Izzo leading the charge.
“He’s great, a really smart kid. Works his ass off,” Izzo said. “He’s a guy that has enjoyed the process. He’s really a thorough guy. He worked under some good people. I think [Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson] is one of the best coaches in the league. That will be a big plus with him.”
Ott’s most recent role under Atkinson in Cleveland was likely his best-concluding affirmation that the 40-year-old Pennsylvania native was ready for the gig of a bench boss. The Cavaliers had their best season in many years in Atkinson’s first year on the bench. It led to a 64-18 record and the top-seeded team in the Eastern Conference. Praise also hailed from former Brooklyn Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Darvin Ham. Ott served as an assistant under both of them.
“He has a great feel, which is an intangible, I think, that is just as valuable,” Ham said. “You’ve got to know your Xs and Os. You’ve got to be well equipped with player development, programs and understanding both sides of the ball, but I just think the feel for people nowadays with so much going on. The world is moving so fast between social media and the ever-changing landscape of our league from playing styles to playing trends, he’s abreast to all of that. He stays on top of all of that.”
Continuing a successfull trend
With Phoenix hiring Ott, it presents an opposite outlook from that of previous hires Mike Budenholzer and Frank Vogel. After firing Monty Williams in 2023, the franchise sought championship experience to steer the ship. The plan ultimately failed, resulting in little to no playoff success for the Suns. With the substantial success teams have had in hiring younger coaches with little to no head coaching experience in recent years, Phoenix is the latest organization to continue this trend.
Joe Mazzulla is currently the youngest head coach in the league at 35 years old, and he already has one NBA title to his name with the Boston Celtics. Will Hardy (Utah), Charles Lee (Charlotte), Mark Daigneault (OKC), Jordi Fernandez (Brooklyn), and JJ Redick (Los Angeles) are just a few of the other younger hires in the past two to three years that are beginning to reap early success with their respective teams. For some teams, it’s from a rebuilding perspective. For others, like Redick or Daigneault, championship contention is the expectation.
In Phoenix, Ott will get his first crack at trying to build and coach a championship contender. If the pedigree and rapport of his peers carry any weight, Ott may be the next young head coaching success story the NBA keeps churning out season after season.
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