Report: Former Thunder Mike Muscala to join Suns as assistant coach

Only a year into retirement, Mike Muscala is back in the NBA. It didn't take long for the former career journeyman to get the itch to return to the league. After all, he's spent most of his life around basketball.

Muscala will reportedly be a Phoenix Suns assistant coach, per HoopsHype's Michael Scotto. He will join first-time NBA head coach Jordan Ott's bench. The two spent time together on the Atlanta Hawks.

Muscala carved out an 11-season NBA career as a backup center. He was a stretch five who enjoyed his best years on the Oklahoma City Thunder. In two combined stints that spanned five years, he averaged 6.5 points and 2.9 rebounds in OKC. He shot 38.7% from 3 on 3.5 attempts.

Muscala played on seven NBA teams during his time in the league. His second short stint on the Thunder ended his playing career. He was a late addition when he signed with OKC to end the 2023-24 season. The 32-year-old then called it quits later that summer.

Now, Muscala gets a chance to start his coaching career. Plenty of former players become assistant coaches. He gets a good start on a Suns squad that looks to start fresh with Devin Booker after they traded away Kevin Durant and waived Bradley Beal.

Ott was named the Suns' head coach this offseason after Mike Budenholzer was fired. He will be four Phoenix head coach in four seasons. He spent 12 years as an NBA assistant at four different stops before finally getting the promotion. He was a Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach last season.

Just In: The Phoenix Suns will add Mike Muscala as an assistant coach, sources told @hoopshype. After 11 NBA seasons with the Hawks, Thunder, 76ers, Wizards, Celtics, Lakers and Pistons, Muscala becomes a coach at 34. Suns new head coach Jordan Ott worked with Muscala in Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/yqsiZjEvL2

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) August 9, 2025

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Report: Former Thunder Mike Muscala to join Suns as assistant coach