O’Dowd grad among finalists for Suns coach

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Cavaliers assistant Johnnie Bryant, an Oakland native, is a finalist to become the new head coach of the Suns. David Zalubowski / the associated press

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The Phoenix Suns have whittled their coaching search down to two candidates, with Cleveland Cavaliers assistants Johnnie Bryant, an Oakland native, and Jordan Ott making the cut, a person familiar with the search confirmed.

ESPN first reported that Bryant and Ott were the two finalists.

The Suns are looking for their fourth coach in four seasons after firing Mike Budenholzer following a miserable 36-46 season that ended without a trip to the playoffs.

Bryant and Ott are expected to meet with Suns management later this week.

The 39-year-old Bryant, who graduated from Bishop O’Dowd High School in 2003 before he went on to play at Utah, has been in the NBA for more than a decade. He was as an assistant with the Jazz and Knicks before joining the Cavaliers as associate head coach in 2024.

Ott, 40, has worked for the Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Lakers and the Cavaliers. He also worked as a video coordinator under Tom Izzo at Michigan State, which is where Suns owner Mat Ishbia played as a walk-on from 1999 to 2003.

Walker to miss time

Indiana forward Jarace Walker will miss at least the first two games of the NBA Finals due to a right ankle injury he sustained on Saturday in the Pacers’ Eastern Conference finals series-clinching win over New York

“(Walker’s) going to be out for a while. I don’t know how long. He certainly will not play in the first two games of the Finals,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle told 107.5 The Fan on Monday.

Ainge hires son

Austin Ainge, who like his father played at BYU and was a longtime executive with the Boston Celtics, was hired Monday to join Jazz CEO Danny Ainge as Utah’s president of basketball operations.

Austin Ainge spent the previous 17 seasons with the Celtics, including the past six as assistant general manager.

Danny Ainge, a former Celtics championship player who also served as their executive director of basketball operations from 2003-21, has been with the Jazz since leaving Boston.

“I have lived this my whole life, constantly studying teams, talent, chemistry and the selflessness necessary to win,” Austin Ainge said in a statement.

“I look forward to bringing that to Utah and am excited to give Jazz fans a lot to cheer about.”