NBA's Magic reportedly interested in hiring MSU's Izzo

The Orlando Magic are looking for a head coach, and according to one report, the team is interested in Michigan State’s Tom Izzo.

The Athletic's Michael Scotto tweeted on Thursday morning: “The Orlando Magic have expressed interest in Michigan State coach Tom Izzo for the team's head coaching position, league sources told The Athletic.”

Michigan State officials said they would have no comment on the report and there was no indication whether Izzo was at all interested in heading to the NBA. Izzo has been in this spot before, considering the Atlanta Hawks job in 2000 and the Cleveland Cavaliers opening in 2010. Both times he opted to remain at Michigan State, where he just completed his 23rd season.

However, if there was a chance Izzo, 63, would consider a move to the NBA, this could be the year. He is coming off a season when he and his program fell under plenty of scrutiny for its handling of past sexual assault cases. Add to that, the Big Ten regular-season champions entered the NCAA Tournament as one of the favorites only to lose in the second round to Syracuse.

After the loss at Little Caesars Arena, Izzo said he had no intention of leaving Michigan State.

“I don’t plan on going anywhere,” Izzo said. “I’ve got a job to do and I’ve never run from anything in my life. Nothing. I don’t plan on starting now. So I’ll be here. I took too many bullets this year not to be here. So I’ll be here and we’ll be back knocking on the door to win a championship, I’m gonna make damn sure of that. I’m gonna get the help of my people, my team, my support and hopefully I’ll do a better job handling all the other things.”

The Magic, who fired Frank Vogel at the end of the season, are owned by Grand Rapids native Richard DeVos. Former MSU star Scott Skiles was the coach from 2015-16 and former Pistons executive John Hammond is the current general manager.

Izzo, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016, has won 574 games in his career, reached seven Final Fours and has one national championship along with eight Big Ten regular-season championships.

mcharboneau@detroitnews.com

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