Introductory news conference for new Suns GM Brian Gregory
The Phoenix Suns hold an introductory press conference for their new general manager, Brian Gregory.
The Phoenix Suns have narrowed down their list of finalists for their vacant head coaching position.
Cleveland Cavaliers assistants Jordan Ott and Johnnie Bryant are finalists for the position, the Arizona Republic confirmed Monday morning, June 2.
ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news. This will be Phoenix’s fourth head coach in four seasons.
Ott and Bryant were instrumental in their first season in Cleveland in helping the Cavs post the best record in the Eastern Conference at 64-18.
Kenny Atkinson was named NBA Coach of the Year for the 2024-25 season in his first year as Cleveland’s head coach.
The finalists will meet with team owner Mat Ishbia in Michigan in what appears to be the final stage of the interview process. Ishbia’s company, United Wholesale Mortgage, has its main campus in Pontiac.
Ott has Michigan State ties, as do Suns general manager Brian Gregory and Ishbia.
Gregory was an assistant on Michigan State’s 2000 national championship team under Tom Izzo, while Ishbia was a walk-on player on that squad
Ott later served as MSU’s video coordinator for five years and earned a master’s degree in athletic administration from the university. He left the Spartans in 2013 for a video coordinator position with the Atlanta Hawks, where he worked under Mike Budenholzer for three seasons from 2013-16.
The Suns had interviewed more than 15 candidates before narrowing it down from nine to five, with Oklahoma City Thunder assistant Dave Bliss, Dallas Mavericks assistant Sean Sweeney and Miami Heat assistant Chris Quinn being the other three.
Phoenix is coming off a 36-46 season under Budenholzer, who was fired after one season. The Suns failed to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 season, which was the last time they had a losing record.
Monty Williams, Frank Vogel and Budenholzer were fired after each of the past three seasons with Ishbia as team owner. Ishbia bought the Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury for a record $4 billion during the 2022-23 season.
League sources informed The Republic that Phoenix has placed great emphasis on asking candidates about their defensive philosophy, defensive strategies, game plans and coverage schemes.
The Suns were 27th in defensive rating this season under Budenholzer.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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