Michigan State's legendary coach reveals he held serious talks with Phoenix owner Mat Ishbia before they went with Jordan Ott.
Michigan State's Tom Izzo dropped a bombshell revelation that has college basketball circles buzzing - he came incredibly close to making the jump to the NBA last summer. The Hall of Fame coach disclosed that he engaged in substantial discussions with Phoenix Suns majority owner Mat Ishbia about taking over the franchise's head coaching position.
The talks were far from casual conversations, with Izzo emphasizing he "talked seriously" with Ishbia about the opportunity. This marks one of the closest calls in recent memory of a premier college coach potentially making the leap to professional basketball's biggest stage. The Suns ultimately decided to go with Jordan Ott, but the mere fact that Izzo was in serious consideration speaks volumes about his coaching pedigree.
For a franchise that has been home to African stars like Deandre Ayton from the Bahamas and has consistently featured players from across the diaspora, landing a coach of Izzo's caliber would have been a major statement. The veteran coach has built his reputation on developing talent and creating winning cultures - exactly what organizations look for when building around international players.
While Izzo remains committed to East Lansing for now, his willingness to entertain NBA opportunities signals that the coaching carousel could get very interesting in future seasons. The revelation also highlights how NBA franchises are increasingly looking beyond traditional professional coaching ranks to find leaders who can maximize talent from every corner of the globe.
