There were plenty of takeaways from the Phoenix Suns' 2025-26 media day, but the arrival of former franchise great Steve Nash back to The Valley was certainly a key talking point. Owner Mat Ishbia and General Manager Brian Gregory both going out of their way to praise Nash for all he has done for the organization in the past, and also talk about how much he can bring to the Suns moving forward.
One person who perhaps wasn't as thrilled by this is first year head coach Jordan Ott. Although he was on Nash's coaching staff with the Brooklyn Nets - and also spoke glowingly about Nash and appeared delighted to have him to lean on as he navigates his first season in Phoenix - this is surely an unwelcome distraction.
Steve Nash will be next head coach of the Phoenix Suns.
Unfortunately for coach Ott, Nash also has the inside track in terms of relationships developed with the key people in the Suns' organization. Devin Booker was more than happy for Ott to get the gig earlier in the offseason, but that was before there was a chance that Nash could come back into the fold.
Steve Nash was an amazing player and exactly what the Phoenix Suns are all about. His grit, toughness, and winning mentality have defined our organization in the past, and I’m so excited to share that Steve is formally joining the @Suns as a senior advisor and will help us define… pic.twitter.com/cm1VkMrBtv
— Mat Ishbia (@Mishbia15) September 22, 2025
That relationship could be crucial, especially if the Suns are even worse than many predict they will be. Ishbia hasn't been known for his patience since taking over - and while that might have changed for now - how long until he sees a bigger name and decides to go with it? Just like in trading for Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal in the past.
Speaking of the soon to be 37-year-old Durant - now of the Houston Rockets - it was he alongside Kyrie Irving who seemingly wanted Nash gone from Brooklyn when all three were on the Nets. No Durant in The Valley anymore gives Nash a clear runway to become their head coach down the road, and he would surely love to prove Durant wrong in the process as well.
The Suns once had Frank Vogel in charge, with a highly promising lead assistant in Kevin Young. Many believed - ourselves included - that Young was an excellent option to pivot to if Vogel didn't work out. We all know how that ended - although when the time came to hire their next head coach - Young was already with BYU.
This is an opportunity then for the franchise to have a kind of two timelines approach to coaching - and although that could easily become a distraction - they can just keep Nash in the shadows for now. If Ott ends up really hitting - and he's committed to improving defensively - then perhaps going full circle and having Nash on his coaching ticket down the road could be the answer instead.