The Thunder aren’t going quietly. Oklahoma City bounced back in classic fashion Sunday night, dropping the Indiana Pacers 123-107 in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. It’s been the same story all season long for the Thunder: take a loss, come back stronger. And they did exactly that. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the league MVP, led the… Continue reading
The milestones keep rolling for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. In Game 2 of the NBA Finals, SGA — the reigning NBA MVP — hit a massive career landmark by scoring his 3,000th point of the season (including playoffs). The milestone basket was a smooth 10-footer with 8:24 left in the first quarter, and it wasn’t just any… Continue reading
In a gut punch for Memphis Grizzlies fans, All-Rookie center Zach Edey is sidelined again. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on June 7, 2025, that Edey re-sprained his left ankle during an offseason workout, requiring surgery to “re-stabilize” it due to excessive ligamentous laxity. He’ll likely miss the start of the 2025-26 season, a blow for… Continue reading
![Suns Bet on Jordan Ott: Can He Turn Phoenix Around? 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. Check our YouTube Short for Ott’s Cavs highlights and hit [Insert Blog Link Here] for more Suns offseason buzz. Can Ott make Phoenix rise? Comment below! #Suns #NBACoaching](https://ballersculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2214839813.0.jpg.webp)
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… Continue reading
The New York Knicks just dropped a bombshell louder than a Madison Square Garden buzzer-beater: Tom Thibodeau is out as head coach, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. After five seasons, two 50-win campaigns, and dragging the Knicks to their first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years, Thibs got the boot because, apparently, his gruff voice wasn’t… Continue reading
The Phoenix Suns are on the verge of naming their next head coach, with Johnnie Bryant and Jordan Ott, both assistants from the Cleveland Cavaliers, emerging as the final two candidates, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. After a disappointing 36-46 season and the firing of Mike Budenholzer on April 14, 2025, the Suns are set to… Continue reading
The Utah Jazz are shaking up their front office with a major hire, naming Austin Ainge, former Boston Celtics assistant general manager, as their new president of basketball operations, per ESPN’s Shams Charania and Tim Bontemps. After 17 years with the Celtics, including six as assistant GM, the 43-year-old Ainge reunites with his father, Danny… Continue reading
For the first time since 2000, the Indiana Pacers are back in the NBA Finals! A dominant 121-89 Game 6 blowout over the New York Knicks on May 30, 2025, sealed their Eastern Conference crown, with Pascal Siakam earning the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP award for his stellar series. Facing the Oklahoma City… Continue reading
The Minnesota Timberwolves are ready to swing big! After a 124-94 Game 5 thrashing by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 Western Conference Finals, the Wolves are reportedly targeting Kevin Durant to pair with Anthony Edwards as their next “alpha,” per @AmicoHoops on Hoops Wire. With Minnesota’s championship window wide open and Durant’s future… Continue reading
The New York Knicks are on the brink, and their star center Karl-Anthony Towns might not be at full strength. Listed as questionable for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers on May 29, 2025, with a left knee contusion, per Tony East of WTHR Channel 13, Towns’ status is a… Continue reading
Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is rewriting history! Crowned the 2024-25 NBA MVP, named to the All-NBA First Team for the third straight year, and now the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP, SGA is on a tear. His 34-point, 8-assist, 7-rebound masterclass in a 124-94 Game 5 rout of the Minnesota Timberwolves on… Continue reading
The 2024-25 NBA playoffs are electric, but the trade rumor mill is stealing the show! As teams battle for the title, whispers of blockbuster moves are shaking the league, with stars like Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Darius Garland, and Jrue Holiday in the mix. From Cleveland eyeing a Garland swap to the Clippers chasing Holiday,… Continue reading