Latest news with #JohnnieBryant
New York Post
2 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Cavaliers assistant Johnnie Bryant available for Knicks after Suns hire Jordan Ott
An assistant coach of the Knicks' past could be their answer to the future after the Suns made their coaching decision. Johnnie Bryant, a former Knicks associate head coach who was considered a finalist for the Phoenix vacancy, did not get the top Suns job Wednesday as the team is instead hiring his Cleveland colleague, assistant Jordan Ott, according to ESPN. 3 Cavaliers assistant Johnnie Bryant could be a target in the Knicks' coaching search. AP Advertisement 3 The Suns are hiring Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as their next head coach. NBAE via Getty Images With this move, the Knicks could lock in on Bryant in their coaching search after Tuesday's stunning firing of Tom Thibodeau. He was relieved of his duties days after the Knicks were eliminated from their first Eastern Conference finals in 25 years. Advertisement Thibodeau led the team for five seasons. Bryant, 39, spent four seasons with Thibodeau, serving as the Knicks' associate head coach from 2020-24. 3 The Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau after five seasons in June 2025. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post He joined the Cavaliers before the 2024-25 season in the same position. Advertisement The Cavaliers grabbed the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 64-18. Follow The Post's coverage of the Knicks' stunning firing of head coach Tom Thibodeau The NBA Finals-bound Pacers eliminated Cleveland in five games in the second round of the playoffs. Ott, a first-time head coach, will succeed Mike Budenholzer in Phoenix. Advertisement He was fired by the Suns in April after a disappointing 36-46 campaign.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
7 potential replacements for Tom Thibodeau as Knicks coach
June 3 - Over the last five years, Tom Thibodeau won 226 regular-season games with the New York Knicks, or just 30 fewer than his six predecessors combined. His 24 playoff wins were the most by a Knicks coach since Jeff Van Gundy and six more than New York recorded in the 20 years prior to his arrival. And the Knicks' trip to the Eastern Conference finals this spring was the first for the franchise since 2000 and unleashed a joyfully riotous weeks-long party in a city starved for a basketball title. For all of that, Thibodeau got fired Tuesday before the three-year extension he signed last summer could even begin. Tough town, tough gig -- especially for Thibodeau's successor, who arrives with championship-or-bust expectations even after the Knicks' lack of depth, athleticism and defensive acumen were exposed by the Indiana Pacers in the conference finals. Here are a few candidates who might be tasked with finally winning the Knicks' first title since 1973: Michael Malone, ex-Nuggets head coach: Nobody is better prepared for the crucible of New York than Malone. He spent two seasons as a Knicks assistant in the early 2000s and is the son of the late Brendan Malone, who had three different stints as a New York assistant. And no one understands the demands placed upon a head coach like Malone, who was fired by Denver with three games to go in the regular season despite winning a franchise-record 471 games as well as the Nuggets' lone NBA title in 2023. Johnnie Bryant, Cavaliers assistant coach: Bryant was the associate head coach of the Knicks under Thibodeau for four years before moving to Cleveland in 2024. He's reportedly up for the Phoenix Suns gig, the only other current NBA opening, so Thibodeau's firing might have been a preemptive strike by Knicks management. Bryant would also provide a familiar face for the Knicks, whose lone assistant coach with NBA head coaching experience is Maurice Cheeks -- who hasn't run a team since 2014. Taylor Jenkins, ex-Grizzlies head coach: Like Malone, Jenkins was a surprise late-season firing despite an impressive track record in Memphis, where he won a franchise-record 250 games. His ability to cultivate young talent could be intriguing as the replacement for the famously vet-friendly Thibodeau. Mike Brown, ex-Cavaliers, Lakers and Kings head coach: Brown coached LeBron James during the latter's first stint in Cleveland, so he knows all about dealing with strong personalities. He was also an assistant on three NBA champions with the Golden State Warriors before ending Sacramento's 16-year postseason drought in his first season at the helm in 2022-23. Frank Vogel, ex-Pacers, Magic, Lakers and Suns coach: Like Brown, he has experience with winning in challenging situations. Vogel got the Pacers to consecutive Eastern Conference finals in 2013-14 and led the Lakers to the title in the pandemic bubble before the impatient Suns fired him after one year. Mike Budenholzer, ex-Hawks, Bucks and Suns head coach: His star dimmed when he was fired following the first season of a five-year deal with the Suns. But he can't be ruled out as part of a bid by the Knicks to land Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, though such a deal is unlikely given the Knicks' lack of first-round picks and tradable players. Jeff Van Gundy, ex-Knicks and Rockets head coach: A long shot because it's been 18 years since he last served as a head coach. But Van Gundy, still somehow only 63 years old, is one of the few people who could give Thibodeau a run in the gym rat department, as he proved by taking an assistant's job with the Clippers this season following a successful broadcasting career. Plus -- and this cannot be stated enough -- as a former Knicks coach, Van Gundy would know what he's getting into. --Jerry Beach, Field Level Media
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Cavaliers' Johnnie Bryant and Jordan Ott finalists for Phoenix Suns coaching vacancy
Phoenix Suns have identified Cleveland Cavaliers' assistants Johnnie Bryant and Jordan Ott as the final two candidates for their head coach opening, according to sources. The Suns plan to meet both finalists later this week in Michigan. The team is concluding a thorough multi-phase process to select its fourth coach in four seasons Cleveland Cavaliers assistants Johnnie Bryant and Jordan Ott are finalists for the Phoenix Suns' head coaching job, per reports Suns narrow head coach search to Cavaliers' Bryant and Ott Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Phoenix Suns have named Cleveland Cavaliers associate coach Johnnie Bryant and assistant Jordan Ott as finalists in their ongoing search for a new head coach, according to sources reported by ESPN on Monday, June and Ott are scheduled to meet with Suns owner Mat Ishbia, CEO Josh Bartelstein, and general manager Brian Gregory later this week in Michigan. The Suns initiated the search after dismissing Mike Budenholzer on April 14. Gregory, named general manager on May 1, has overseen a multi-stage interview process that began with over 15 read: New York Knicks dismiss Tom Thibodeau after five seasons as head coach After initial interviews, eight candidates were invited to second-round meetings. Six individuals, Bryant, Ott, Chris Quinn (Miami Heat), Sean Sweeney (Dallas Mavericks), Dave Bliss (Oklahoma City Thunder), and Suns assistant David Fizdale, advanced to in-person sessions with team executives last say Suns guard Devin Booker has participated in the final stages of the decision-making process over the past 10 days. The organization has been deliberate in its approach, maintaining the NBA's only active coaching vacancy for several Bryant and Ott joined the Cleveland Cavaliers last offseason as part of head coach Kenny Atkinson's staff. Under their guidance, the Cavaliers posted an Eastern Conference-best 64 wins and led the league in offensive efficiency while ranking eighth in defensive efficiency, according to ESPN previously served as an assistant with the Utah Jazz (2012–2020) and New York Knicks (2020–2024). He played collegiate basketball at the University of Utah from 2005 to coaching career includes roles with the Atlanta Hawks (2013–2016), Brooklyn Nets (2016–2022), and Los Angeles Lakers (2022–2024). Before joining the NBA, he worked as a video coordinator under coach Tom Izzo at Michigan State University from 2008 to Suns finished the 2024–25 NBA season with a 36–46 record and will be appointing their fourth head coach in as many seasons.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Cavaliers' Johnnie Bryant and Jordan Ott finalists for Phoenix Suns coaching vacancy
Phoenix Suns have identified Cleveland Cavaliers' assistants Johnnie Bryant and Jordan Ott as the final two candidates for their head coach opening, according to sources. The Suns plan to meet both finalists later this week in Michigan. The team is concluding a thorough multi-phase process to select its fourth coach in four seasons Cleveland Cavaliers assistants Johnnie Bryant and Jordan Ott are finalists for the Phoenix Suns' head coaching job, per reports Suns narrow head coach search to Cavaliers' Bryant and Ott Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Phoenix Suns have named Cleveland Cavaliers associate coach Johnnie Bryant and assistant Jordan Ott as finalists in their ongoing search for a new head coach, according to sources reported by ESPN on Monday, June and Ott are scheduled to meet with Suns owner Mat Ishbia, CEO Josh Bartelstein, and general manager Brian Gregory later this week in Michigan. The Suns initiated the search after dismissing Mike Budenholzer on April 14. Gregory, named general manager on May 1, has overseen a multi-stage interview process that began with over 15 read: New York Knicks dismiss Tom Thibodeau after five seasons as head coach After initial interviews, eight candidates were invited to second-round meetings. Six individuals, Bryant, Ott, Chris Quinn (Miami Heat), Sean Sweeney (Dallas Mavericks), Dave Bliss (Oklahoma City Thunder), and Suns assistant David Fizdale, advanced to in-person sessions with team executives last say Suns guard Devin Booker has participated in the final stages of the decision-making process over the past 10 days. The organization has been deliberate in its approach, maintaining the NBA's only active coaching vacancy for several Bryant and Ott joined the Cleveland Cavaliers last offseason as part of head coach Kenny Atkinson's staff. Under their guidance, the Cavaliers posted an Eastern Conference-best 64 wins and led the league in offensive efficiency while ranking eighth in defensive efficiency, according to ESPN previously served as an assistant with the Utah Jazz (2012–2020) and New York Knicks (2020–2024). He played collegiate basketball at the University of Utah from 2005 to coaching career includes roles with the Atlanta Hawks (2013–2016), Brooklyn Nets (2016–2022), and Los Angeles Lakers (2022–2024). Before joining the NBA, he worked as a video coordinator under coach Tom Izzo at Michigan State University from 2008 to Suns finished the 2024–25 NBA season with a 36–46 record and will be appointing their fourth head coach in as many seasons.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Ex-Knicks associate coach Johnnie Bryant a finalist for Suns job
The Suns' coaching search is down to a pair of Cavs. Former Knicks associate coach Johnnie Bryant is a finalist for Phoenix's head coaching job, and Cleveland's associate head coach is joined by Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott, ESPN insider Chams Charania reported Monday. Bryant spent four seasons in New York from the 2020-21 season through the 2023-24 season. He spent the first six seasons of his coaching career as an assistant with the Jazz. Advertisement 3 Former Knicks associate coach Johnnie Bryant has been named a finalist for the Suns head coach vacancy. Getty Images Now, he'll meet with Suns owner Mat Ishbia, CEO Josh Bartelstein and general manager Brian Gregory in Michigan with a hiring potentially coming as soon as this week. Bryant just concluded his 11th season in the NBA coaching ranks, helping the Cavs to an Eastern Conference-best record of 64-18. They ranked first in offensive efficiency and eighth in defensive efficiency this year with Bryant, 39, and head coach Kenny Atkinson running the show. Advertisement Despite the massive expectations, Cleveland surprisingly fell in the semifinals to the Pacers in six games. Both Bryant and Ott arrived in Cleveland in the summer of 2024 as two of Coach of the Year Atkinson's first hires. 3 Associate Head Coach Johnnie Bryant of the New York Knicks speaks with head coach Tom Thibodeau during the second quarter of the game against the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden on March 29, 2023 in New York City. Getty Images Since the Suns fired Mike Budenholzer in April and hired Gregory as the new GM in May, the franchise has been on a hunt for their next head coach — their fourth new coach in the last seven years after finishing with a 36-46 record this season. Advertisement Gregory has led the process, starting with over 15 interviews before moving on to six second-round conversations with Bryant, Ott, Miami's Chris Quinn, Dallas' Sean Sweeney, Oklahoma City's Dave Bliss and current staff member and former Knicks head coach David Fizdale. The process moved into in-person visits last week. 3 Pacers' associate head coach Johnnie Bryant and Assistant Coach Jordan Ott looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers during Round 2 Game 3 on May 9, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. NBAE via Getty Images The hiring process does not have to be rushed for the Suns, as they are the prime head coaching vacancy this offseason.
