New Suns GM Brian Gregory on relationship with team owner Mat Ishbia
Gregory: “Mat is an owner that is involved, and I like that. But he has also empowered me to build this team.”
The Michigan State Suns or the Phoenix Spartans?
The Phoenix Suns‘ hire of Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as the team’s head coach is being questioned by some on social media because of Ott’s connections to Suns owner Mat Ishbia and new Suns general manager Brian Gregory through Michigan State University.
They speculate that Phoenix hired him to be their coach over other candidates, some of whom were more experienced, because of their connections to the Spartans.
Gregory was an assistant coach on Michigan State’s 2000 team that won the national championship. Ishbia was a walk-on player on that team. Ott later spent five years as the Spartans’ video coordinator.
But Ott was reportedly Devin Booker’s top choice for coach and has experience as an NBA assistant coach.
How social media reacted to Phoenix Suns’ Michigan State connections:
We’ve been criticized by a few people who are tired of the Michigan jokes but folks, its not even joking. It’s just reality.
Bartelstein – Michigan
Gregory – Michigan State
Ott – Michigan State
Paul Rivers – from Michigan
Taliaferro – worked for the Pistons
— Sam Cooper (@scooperhoops) June 4, 2025
You gotta hand it to Mat Ishbia, he’s basically living a 15yr old’s dream:
Bought an NBA franchise so he could play 2K MyTEAM irl, then hired all his friends & Michigan State alums to work there. https://t.co/cuPJTw1kZ7
— Betsey (@Betsycashmoney) June 4, 2025
Jordan Ott is certainly qualified to be a head coach. The Michigan State thing is going to continue to be a thing, but like Brian Gregory, Suns fans will just have to hope he acquits himself on the job and that the proof is in his body of work
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) June 4, 2025
The Michigan State Suns.
Why not change our arena and mascot name too?
— Zona (@AZSportsZone) June 4, 2025
Suns owner Mat Ishbia’s Michigan State connections in his two big hires this offseason:
GM Brian Gregory: Coached Ishbia during his time as a walk-on with the Spartans.
HC Jordan Ott: Attended Michigan State where his coaching career began under Tom Izzo as a video coordinator. pic.twitter.com/a9ibjjIrIt
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 4, 2025
Suns fans: I wonder what Mat Ishbia will bring as an owner
Anyone who’s ever worked for Michigan State basketball: pic.twitter.com/M9k4J7Cbka
— Blake Allen Murphy (@blakemurphy7) June 4, 2025
Done deal. #Suns have hired Jordan Ott to be their next head coach.
Ott comes with a strong background as an NBA assistant coach and is certainly qualified for the job… But the Michigan State talk is real. Owner, GM and head coach all have ties to the university. @12SportsAZ pic.twitter.com/zbog2G9GEW
— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) June 4, 2025
The only thing I hope is that the Suns hired Ott because he was qualified for the job & not just because he’s a Michigan state alum. That’s all.
— Brandon Awadis (@brawadis) June 4, 2025
Mat Ishbia bought the Suns with the sole intention of using the team as a way to hangout with friends from college & get Isiah Thomas his childhood idol to be his friend lol what a job that fake coaching search was, MSU’s Jordan Ott gets the job https://t.co/8B6MbpfFNI
— Goldschmidt Happened (@GoldyHappens) June 4, 2025
Jordan Ott went to Michigan State. Mat Ishbia went to Michigan State.
I wouldn’t take this as an indictment on Johnnie Bryant. At all lmao. https://t.co/9y3x1z6rfZ
— Mensa from KFS (@morelikemensa) June 4, 2025
Do you have any issues with the Phoenix Suns’ Michigan State connections?
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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