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.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.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.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.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.The hiring process does not have to be rushed for the Suns, as they are the prime head coaching vacancy this offseason....