After defying critics with a 45-win debut, Phoenix’s tactical mastermind now faces a high-stakes roster retool. Can he leverage an underrated core to silence doubters and claim hardware?
Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott is heading into year two on the job with the franchise on much stronger footing and in a much more optimal position to succeed compared to this time last year.
Ott inherited a roster that was seen as one in desperate need of retooling following trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets, but the first-year head coach brushed off criticism surrounding the circumstances of his hiring to win 45 games and finish top five in Coach of the Year voting.
Now, Ott is even better positioned to lead the team to greener pastures in 2026-27, which ultimately sets the stage for elevated odds to win the top honor that an NBA coach can receive on a yearly basis.
The main roadblock preventing Ott from having unbridled continuity heading into the upcoming season is the trade for Miles Bridges, which resulted in parting with Phoenix's two most reliable high-volume shooters in Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale. It's certainly going to be a challenge for Ott to adapt, but he has already proved to be an effective coach on the offensive side of the ball - particularly in crafting simple, yet profound sets that maximize quality looks from three and putting the ball in the hands of team's best playmakers.
There might be growing pains when considering the easing in of Bridges into the offense, but one would be hard-pressed to see a world in which Ott won't be able to adapt to his strengths, which also includes an underrated ability as a passer.
The other piece of the equation that bodes well for Ott is the stone cold fact that Phoenix is being discounted yet again within the national landscape. Numerous sportsbooks and national pundits are projecting that the Suns won't eclipse 40 wins in the upcoming season despite the fact that variables such as a healthier Jalen Green are fully within scope at the moment. The Suns being positioned to increase the 45 wins from 2025-26 would absolutely play into the narrative that a Coach of the Year winner thrives off of on average.
Lastly, Ott has crafted an excellent staff that has largely succeeded in developing talent such as Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming over the last year. While the extent of their development is unclear at the moment, the work that Ott has done to position the youthful players for a leap cannot be ignored.
Join The SunsRoundtable
Head over to the SunsRoundtable page and hit the "Join" button at the top of the page... it's completely FREE! You'll have the opportunity to engage with other Suns fans who live and breathe the team, share your thoughts on the organization, and more. If you're asked to sign up or download the Roundtable app... that's free too.
Kevin Hicks is a contributing writer to SunsRoundtable. He can be reached on X @khicks_21.
