Former Nets Player/Coach Reunite On Phoenix Suns Staff

After joining Jordan Ott in Cleveland and Los Angeles, Demarre Carroll will now be a part of his staff with the Phoenix Suns.

Feb 21, 2019; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets small forward DeMarre Carroll (9) drives around Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard Rodney Hood (5) during the second quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Last week, former Nets assistant coach Jordan Ott moved his way up in the coaching ranks after being named the Phoenix Suns head coach.

At Ott’s two most recent stops (Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers), former Nets forward DeMarre Carroll has followed him as an assistant coach, even joining his former Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson’s staff in Cleveland last season.

On Wednesday, Carroll became Ott’s first assistant coaching hire as he began assembling his first staff as a head coach.

JUST IN: Phoenix Suns coach Jordan Ott has added DeMarre Carroll as an assistant coach on his bench, league sources told @hoopshype. Ott coached Carroll with the Brooklyn Nets and both worked together as assistant coaches for the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers. pic.twitter.com/MWgEJc20qB

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 12, 2025

Carroll will be entering his fourth season as an assistant coach. After his NBA career wrapped up in 2020, Carroll joined his former head coach Mike Budenholzer’s staff with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2022. He spent a season in Milwaukee before joining the Los Angeles Lakers as Darvin Ham's first hire as the team's head coach.

Throughout his two seasons playing in Brooklyn, Carroll played in 140 games, starting 81. He had the best season of his career with the Nets during the 2017-2018 campaign, averaging 13.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and two assists per game, all career-highs. Overall, he averaged 12.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists during his two seasons with the Nets.

Before coaching alongside each other, Ott left a positive impact on Carroll during his time as a Nets assistant coach. Fresh off the best season of his career, Carroll made sure to give his future boss some recognition

“My player development coach Jordan Ott was really big for me, helping me minimize the game and helping me do what I do well,” Carroll said. “I feel like this is my best season not only physically, but mentally. I think it’s hats off to the player development team and the performance team.”

Carroll spent 11 seasons in the NBA, also playing with the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors and the San Antonio Spurs. Through 578 games, he ended his career with averages of 8.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists.

As of Thursday, Carroll is the only assistant coach that has been added to Ott’s new staff in Phoenix.