Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott enjoyed an excellent beginning to life as a head coach last time out, but all of that has now been forgotten with increased expectations in The Valley. As we look at the Suns with the most to prove during the 2026-27 season, let's start with Ott.
Coach Ott has to at least match last season to be considered a success
In his maiden campaign, the franchise won 45 games and was swept in the first round of the postseason. That is now the floor for the former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant if he is to prove that he remains the long-term solution for the franchise.
Some national media members believe in this group, but the pressure is now on coach Ott to show the front office he can steer superstar Devin Booker in the right direction for the remainder of his prime.
The Suns have also backed their coach by spending the money required to bring back players such as Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin, who flourished under his leadership last season. You can think what you like about Miles Bridges, but from a talent standpoint, his acquisition gives coach Ott another big forward who can help remedy some of their scoring woes.
Phoenix ranked in the top 10 in defensive rating (112.9 points conceded each night), and the roster again looks capable of sitting around that mark. Offensively, there appears to be another level the Suns can get to. Suns' great Mike D'Antoni has no doubt that Coach Ott can get them there.
If the Suns could make it back to the postseason without having to take a detour through the Play-In Tournament, that would be an acceptable trade-off for winning fewer regular-season games. Then again, failing to go above 45 wins likely means heading to the Play-In anyway.
Coach Ott easiest position to change if Suns take step back
Outside of trading Mark Williams to ease a cap sheet that has surged beyond the first apron, changing who is at the helm is the one move the Suns can make next year if they do take a step back. Head coaches will forever be the fall guys in the NBA because so many are seemingly available and how easy they are to move on from relative to being stuck with players on bad contracts.
So coach Ott begins 2026-27 knowing that his job will be on the line if his team doesn't continue to improve.
A tall order, given the Western Conference remains incredibly competitive, and running back the same roster plus Bridges hardly screams contender. Jordan Ott has proven he can get the best out of a veteran-heavy roster, wringing out more wins than anybody thought possible. Now he has to do it all over again with the expectation that he will deliver.
No pressure then Jordan.
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