Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Suns are hiring Cavs’ assistant Jordan Ott as its new head coach

Originally posted on Ball Exclusives
By Stephen M. Smith | Last updated Jun 5, 2025 1:00 PM ET

Phoenix has found its replacement for Mike Budenholzer as head coach.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Wednesday that the Suns are hiring Jordan Ott.

Just In: The Phoenix Suns are hiring Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as the franchise’s new head coach, sources tell ESPN. Ott has been an NBA assistant since 2012 and has a strong background of offensive and defensive creativity, player development and communication. pic.twitter.com/doDE6Fahdj

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 4, 2025

Ott, 40, served as an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers this season under Kenny Atkinson. Ott aided Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers to the best regular season record in the Eastern Conference (64-18) to grab its No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

Cleveland swept the Miami Heat in the first round, but loss to the Pacers in the second round of the playoffs. Ott developed Mitchell into making his sixth NBA All-Star appearance and earning first-team All-NBA honors. He will have a talented roster with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, but Phoenix wants to see how he will excel with it. The Suns are coming off a terrible season where it could not make the playoffs, despite having Kevin Durant. Ott has work to do, but he is the man in Phoenix.

He has been an assistant coach since 2016 with the Brooklyn Nets.

This article first appeared on Ball Exclusives and was syndicated with permission.

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