Tom Izzo, the legendary Michigan State coach, recently shared that he was nearly swayed to jump to the NBA, thanks to an intriguing conversation with Phoenix Suns owner and former Spartan, Mat Ishbia. The Suns ultimately chose Jordan Ott as their head coach in June 2025, but not before Izzo seriously considered the opportunity.
Izzo, speaking on "The Dan Patrick Show," revealed, "I've had more than a couple job offers in the NBA and looked at one last year with Phoenix ... my former player, Mat Ishbia. That was hard, that was a hard thing to turn down.
Because No. 1, I wanted to go with him."
When pressed by Patrick on whether an official offer was made, Izzo kept things a bit mysterious, saying, "We talked seriously about it, let's say that."
This decision seems to have worked out well for both parties. Ott, who previously assisted Izzo at Michigan State from 2008-13, has the Suns positioned at seventh in the Western Conference with a solid 42-34 record. Ott's journey to head coach saw him outpace Johnnie Bryant, another talented assistant from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Izzo, meanwhile, continues to bolster his impressive resume, fresh off his sixth consecutive March Madness appearance and his 28th NCAA Tournament overall. The only interruption in his streak was the 2020 tournament cancellation due to COVID-19.
The connection between Izzo and Ishbia is rooted in history. Ishbia was a walk-on point guard during the Spartans' 1999-00 national championship season. Though his playing time was limited, Ishbia made 48 appearances over three years, even starting once as a junior under Izzo's guidance.
Throughout his 31-year tenure at Michigan State, Izzo, a 2016 Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, has been linked to NBA opportunities. In 2010, he famously turned down the Cleveland Cavaliers, largely due to the uncertainty surrounding LeBron James' free agency. Shortly after, James made his famous move to Miami, a decision that validated Izzo's choice to remain in college basketball.