Phoenix Suns' head coach Jordan Ott has enjoyed an excellent start to life in The Valley, and his attitude both on the sidelines and when speaking to the media has played a big part in that success. He never gets too high or low, and is clear about the way he wants his team to play when a microphone is put in front of him.
Coach Ott's has perfectly handled Mark Williams back-to-back issues.
One of the tougher aspects of being the leading man in Phoenix this season, has been what to do with center Mark Williams. The franchise traded a pair of first round picks for him over the offseason, and many were concerned that the 23-year-old's body wouldn't hold up. After all, there had to have been a reason the Los Angeles Lakers vetoed a deal for him last season.
But to this point Williams has been exactly what the Suns have needed, protecting the paint and playing starters minutes whether coming off the bench as he did to begin the campaign, or being inserted from the get go. He is yet to play on the second night of a back-to-back however, but just look at how well coach Ott takes questions like this in his stride and doesn't make an issue out of it.
Suns coach Jordan Ott on Grayson Allen (right quad contusion, who is ruled out for Friday's game against Minnesota): “He was able to participate (in Thursday's practice). We didn’t go 5-on-5 or anything like that. It’s definitely trending in the right direction.”
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) November 21, 2025
On Mark… pic.twitter.com/DiTydtorWI
It is easier to tackle these questions head on when your team is winning games, and if the Suns were below .500 it would be a different story. But the reality is the coaching staff have played it brilliantly with Williams so far this season, going back to preseason when he didn't feature at all. Fans were rightly concerned when that happened, but we now know there was no need to be.
The franchise just didn't see any sense in risking him - instead allowing him to work to his own timetable - and it has paid off. He's giving them 11.7 points and 8.2 boards a night, and although neither are career highs, he is well on pace to go beyond the 44 games he played last season. That was the most through his first three seasons in the league.
So the fact he's not being risked on the second night of back-to-backs is a non-issue for the franchise, and it should be. It suits Williams as well, given he is eligible for an extension and will want long-term security whenever that deal gets done. This is just the latest way that coach Ott has been a brilliant hire in Phoenix, both on and off the court.