Tom Izzo’s Near NBA Move

Tom Izzo nearly made the leap from East Lansing to the NBA last summer.

On “The Dan Patrick Show” Wednesday, the iconic Spartans coach mentioned that owner Matt Ishbia has had “serious discussions” regarding a head coach position with the Suns, a team he has ties to from his time at Michigan State.

“I was a lot younger then, but I did have some NBA job offers and even thought about working with Phoenix last year,” Izzo shared.

His connection to Ishbia, who was a player for three years from 1999-2002, including on the national championship team, weighed heavily on his decision. Izzo reflected, “It was a tough call. I really wanted to go with him.”

If Izzo, 71, had decided to transition to the NBA, it would have been a significant event in the basketball world.

As the head coach at Michigan State from 1995 to 1996, he led the team to an impressive 28 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and made eight trips to the Final Four.

The Suns remain closely tied to Michigan State. Their general manager, Brian Gregory, served as an assistant coach under Izzo, while player development coach Mateen Cleaves is also a former Spartan.

Instead of choosing Izzo, the Suns went with Jordan Ott, who had spent six years as his assistant. This choice seems to be paying off as the Suns were sitting at 42-34 and in seventh place in the Western Conference, surprising many this season.

Meanwhile, Izzo’s Spartans recently faced UConn in the Sweet 16 and were eliminated. Post-game, he expressed his commitment to return next season, dismissing any thoughts of retirement.