The Phoenix Suns took a gamble in hiring first time head coach Jordan Ott this offseason, but already it has paid off for them in a big way. The team is playing .500 basketball and has bought into the defensive identity that he has tried to instil in this group. New recruits such as center Mark Williams thriving in the system that coach Ott has put in place.
You could make the case that it was easier for owner Mat Ishbia to take a chance on Ott given the organization was entering a rebuilding phase, but he has also gotten the best out of Devin Booker. The 29-year-old playing the best basketball of his career, and seeming to enjoy playing under yet another head coach.
Suns finally have long-term answer to head coach issue in Ott.
Another underrated aspect of hiring the 40-year-old is the fact he can be the leading man in Phoenix for a long time to come. Consider that in the three seasons prior to this one, Booker had a different head coach on the sidelines each time. Monty Williams being replaced by Frank Vogel, who himself was ousted by Mike Budenholzer.
Now the Suns can plan for the future with a coach in Ott who has already had a signature moment in The Valley. He was the first person to create a defensive scheme that slowed down Victor Wembanyama as the Suns pulled out a surprising win over the San Antonio Spurs, and in truth the French phenom hasn't looked the same since.
This was achieved without Dillon Brooks - the ideal kind of player for Ott's defensive system - while he also managed (briefly) to have Booker and Jalen Green co-exist as well. That ended abruptly as a result of another injury to Green's hamstring, but starting Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale alongside them was a brave call that also paid off.
Coach Ott appearing to sacrifice height at certain positions, if he's sure that the players he chooses can implement his game plan. O'Neale was one of the primary defenders on Wembanyama in that aforementioned game, despite not being known for his contributions on that end. But that was one important part of the successful strategy that the team used.
It should also be noted that - despite Steve Nash coming as a senior advisor - and with another former head coach in Steve Clifford also fulfilling that role away from the team, there hasn't been any drama. Coach Ott just wants to go about his business, and that approach is going to ensure he is successful in Phoenix for years to come. He finally solved their need for coaching stability.