A former NBA veteran is set to join the Phoenix Suns as an assistant coach under Jordan Ott.
After just one season, the Phoenix Suns decided to fire Mike Budenholzer due to their poor record last season.
Not only did the team fail to make it into the playoffs, but Budenholzer also had problems with the star players on the Suns roster.
Right after they finished their season, the franchise began their hunt for a coach and after rounds of interviews appointed Jordan Ott.
Since getting the job, Jesse Mermuys and Mateen Cleaves have joined his team, but Ott has now added a former NBA veteran to his coaching staff.
Mike Muscala had an 11-year NBA career, before he decided to retire from the game in 2024.
He was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks, but had stints with teams like the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, LA Lakers, OKC Thunder, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons.
He spent the longest stint of his career with the Thunder, between 2019 and 2023.
After one year away from the game, Muscala is set to join the Suns coaching staff as reported by Hoops Hype.
Muscala and Ott were together on the Hawks, where the former was a player, while the latter was a video coordinator.
The 34-year-old was somewhat of a journeyman in the NBA, but his experience of being in the locker room will be valuable to the Suns coaching team.
The Suns are going into the 2025-26 season as a completely changed team, with big trades completed and even a new head coach.
Although Ott has been in the league for a while, this is his first proper head coaching job. He is succeeding two former championship-winning coaches in Frank Vogel and Budenholzer, both of whom were sacked after just one season.
Ott was a key part of the Cleveland Cavaliers coaching team and will be hoping to bring some of that experience in Phoenix.
Devin Booker will have to be at his best if the Suns are to have any chance of making the playoffs as he is now the only remaining star in the franchise.
They have Jalen Green, who can score the ball, but he has struggled with efficiency in his career.
There is no doubt Green will be valuable to the Suns roster as his scoring will be crucial, but the Suns will need him to be a reliable option on a nightly basis.
Their defense will be anchored by Dillon Brooks, who does not need an invitation to get under opponents’ skin. He will bring the much-needed toughness to the roster, and to help him, they also have rookie Khaman Maluach, who showed glimpses of his defensive ability in the Summer League.
Overall, the Suns do not have eyes on them like in previous years, but it will be interesting to see what Ott’s new-look roster can do next season.
