The Phoenix Suns are hiring longtime NBA assistant Jesse Mermuys—most recently Orlando's lead assistant and offensive coordinator—as a top aide to new head coach Jordan Ott.
The Phoenix Suns are hiring Jesse Mermuys as a top assistant coach on Jordan Ott's staff, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. This is considered a key hire for Ott, who successfully lured Mermuys away from the well-regarded Orlando Magic coaching staff.
Free throws this season
Phoenix Suns
NBA
Mermuys has served as the lead assistant and offensive coordinator for the Magic since August 2021. He also briefly stepped in as interim head coach in January 2022, when COVID-19 protocols sidelined both the head coach and lead assistant.
A coaching veteran, Mermuys began his career in 2001. His NBA resume includes assistant coaching stops with the Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Toronto Raptors.
He had his only full-time head coaching experience in the 2015–16 season, leading Raptors 905 in the then-named NBA D-League, where he also held the role of assistant general manager.
Mermuys earned his business administration degree from the University of Arizona.
His early coaching path included stops at Salpointe Catholic High School (2001–2004), Pima Community College (2004–05), Southern Utah University (2005–06), and a role as Director of Basketball Operations at Arizona (2006–08).
He is a longtime friend of former Lakers head coach Luke Walton, whom he met in 1999 at the University of Arizona. The two later worked together with the Lakers and Kings, often collaborating closely on game preparation.
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