The Phoenix Suns have a new sheriff in town, and his name is Jordan Ott. On June 4, 2025, ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news that the Suns are hiring the Cleveland Cavaliers assistant as their head coach, plucking him from a 64-win juggernaut to fix a 36-46 mess. After a four-round search grilling over 15 candidates, Suns owner Mat Ishbia, CEO Josh Bartelstein, and new GM Brian Gregory landed on Ott, who edged out Cavs colleague Johnnie Bryant, per ESPN. With Devin Booker giving his thumbs-up and Kevin Durant likely headed for the trade block, Ott’s got a tall order to rebuild Phoenix’s identity. Let’s dive into the hire and what’s next.

Ott, 40, is no rookie to the NBA grind. Since 2012, he’s climbed from video coordinator with the Atlanta Hawks to assistant roles with the Brooklyn Nets (2016-22), Los Angeles Lakers (2022-24), and Cleveland, where he joined Kenny Atkinson’s 2024-25 Coach of the Year staff, per Yahoo Sports. In Cleveland, Ott helped craft the league’s top offensive rating (121.0) and eighth-ranked defense, mentoring Evan Mobley to All-NBA status, per NBC Sports. Charania notes Ott’s “offensive and defensive creativity” and player development chops, while Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro praised his “sophisticated offensive system.” Booker, involved in the final stages, “stamped Ott as his top choice,” per Charania, a big deal for a star who’s seen seven coaches in 10 years, per @NateDuncanNBA. Ott’s four-year deal signals long-term faith, but can he succeed where Monty Williams, Frank Vogel, and Mike Budenholzer flamed out?

Phoenix’s 2024-25 season was a dumpster fire—36 wins, no playoffs, and the NBA’s priciest payroll, per ESPN. Budenholzer’s firing on April 14 came after he lost the locker room, especially Booker, per sources. Ott’s challenge is daunting: Durant’s trade talks are heating up with “four to six” suitors, per ESPN, and Bradley Beal’s $111M deal looms, per The Athletic. Ott’s Michigan State ties (he was a video assistant under Tom Izzo) align with Ishbia and Gregory’s Spartan roots, sparking nepotism grumbles on X (@tpsojda), but his resume—coaching Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn and surviving the Lakers’ chaos—backs his cred. The Suns want a “pivot and reload” around Booker, not a rebuild, per Ishbia’s ESPN comments, but with eight free agents and a second-apron cap crunch, Ott’s creativity will be tested.

What’s next? Ott’s first move is assembling a staff, possibly eyeing ex-Nets colleagues, per NetsWire. Then, he’ll need to craft an identity for a roster that might lose Durant, whose trade could net picks or young talent, per SI.com. Fans are skeptical—X posts like @mixtorious1 question if Ott’s the answer—but Booker’s buy-in and Ott’s work with Cleveland’s top offense give hope.