Michigan State basketball: Orlando Magic interested in Tom Izzo
By Zac Snyder
Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo has received NBA interest in the past, and is getting it again from the Orlando Magic.
Tom Izzo has not been keen to move on from the Michigan State basketball team but that hasn’t stopped overtures from the NBA in the past. Izzo was closest to making the jump to the NBA in 2010 when the Cleveland Cavaliers came calling. Turning down that job was probably a smart move considering LeBron James would move on to the Miami Heat just a few weeks later.
In turning down the Cavs, Izzo declared himself a lifer at Michigan State:
"“I knew at the beginning that whatever decision I made would be a decision for life,” Izzo said.“I am going to be a lifer. This is what I’m going to be, and I’m damn proud of it.”"
That statement may be put to the test. According to The Athletic’s Michael Scotto, the Orlando Magic are interested in Izzo for their head coaching vacancy.
The Orlando Magic have expressed interest in Michigan State coach Tom Izzo for the team's head coaching position, league sources told The Athletic.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) May 24, 2018
Obviously it is one thing for an NBA team to be interested and entirely different thing for that interest to be reciprocated. So far Scotto hasn’t followed up with any indication of whether or not Izzo has been receptive to that interest or if this is ultimately a non-story.
It is possible that the Magic simply view this as an opportune time to try luring Izzo away from Michigan State given the recent turmoil at the university. And while Izzo has had great success at Michigan State, his last two teams have underachieved relative to lofty expectations. Perhaps he would be more open to a new opportunity. That’s what the Magic may be thinking, anyway.
Graham Couch brings the report from the other side, saying Izzo will not be leaving Michigan State for Orlando.
Tom Izzo won't be taking the Orlando Magic head coaching job, a source tells me.
— Graham Couch (@Graham_Couch) May 24, 2018
The Spartans have a five-player class of four-stat recruits coming in so the Michigan State basketball pipeline still looks to be in good shape. It appears Izzo still seems himself as a Spartan for life.
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