MSU’s Tom Izzo Reveals Talks With NBA Team About HC Job in Video, ‘Hard Thing to Turn Down’

Michigan State men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo revealed during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show that he turned down a head coaching opportunity with the Phoenix Suns last year.

Mat Ishbia, who played three seasons as a walk-on point guard for Michigan State under Izzo from 1999-2002, is the Suns’ current governor.

Phoenix ended up hiring Cleveland Cavaliers assistant head coach (and former MSU grad assistant) Jordan Ott, and the team has done well in 2025-26, going 42-34 (a six-win improvement from last year with six games to go).

This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis.

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