The Phoenix Suns have started the new NBA season 1-3 - and although losses were to be expected - it is the manner in which they have been defeated that will worry head coach Jordan Ott. The team ranking second last in defensive rating while giving up 123.7 points per game. Miles away from the next worst team (Philadelphia 76ers, 119.9).
The only reason they're not bottom - where one person predicted they would be - is because the Brooklyn Nets have been so much worse (131.2). On the surface you would think this roster has the players to be competitive defensively every night - and certainly it is an improvement on last year - but dig a little deeper and you see guys like Oso Ighodaro have failed to step up.
Mark Williams proving he can make a difference defensively.
Which is why the addition of center Mark Williams - despite being viewed as a risk at the time - looks like it could pay off. The massive variable here is healthy, and it was worrying to see the 23-year-old sit out the first back-to-back of the season. To follow that up with 31 minutes off the bench in the overtime loss to the Utah Jazz - and massively outperform expectations - was encouraging.
"Mark was unreal. Every second he was on the floor, he impacted the game, both sides."
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 28, 2025
🗣️ Coach Ott on Mark Williams' performance last night@MountainAmerica | #SunsUp pic.twitter.com/DDPVi0oCJi
Williams was viewed as one of the weaker rim protectors in the league by many before being traded by the Charlotte Hornets, but so far he has provided some badly needed interior muscle and desire to grab rebounds. Three games is a small sample size, but the 9.3 boards he has gobbled up has been a welcome sight for a Suns group that sits 15th in that catgory (43.5) in large part because of him.
The 25 points he put up against Utah was another welcome sight - and although that is not why Phoenix brought him in - it does open up the potential for an exciting two-man game with Devin Booker. He clearly needs all the help he can get right now, and having a center who can play off him would help the whole team massively.
This may also go some way to explaining why coach Ott refuses to give rookie Khaman Maluach a chance to crack the rotation proper. He's received a couple of DNPs and has lost out on minutes to Nick Richards, while Ighodaro has continued to start at the five for reasons that are becoming less clear by the day.
Yes trading two first round picks to get him was steep, and you better believe Williams will miss more games this season. There is also the small matter of a contract extension as well, although this could explain his sudden commitment to the defensive end. But with the losses set to come thick and fast - with Williams at least - you can understand the vision from the front office.