The Phoenix Suns recently hired first-time head coach Jordan Ott after he was overwhelmingly the favorite over fellow Cavaliers finalist Johnnie Bryant. Devin Booker was part of the search process, selecting Ott as his top choice. Ott said he wants the Suns to play with tempo, something Booker is in favor of.
After Phoenix beat Utah in January, Booker said that the Suns are "at their best" when they play fast and kick it ahead in transition, not giving the defense time to set up. It wasn't the first time he expressed that sentiment. At Ott's introductory press conference on Tuesday, he said his team will push the pace:
“Everyone’s gonna say pace, right?” Ott said of offense. “Offensively, playing faster. I think a way to look at it is playing earlier in the clock. … How often can we get a good look early in the possession We’re gonna move. The cutting piece is important. … We’re gonna find ways to get extra possessions.”
The Suns' average pace per game in the 2024-25 season was 98.31, ranking 21st in the league. The highest Phoenix has finished in that statistic since drafting Booker was in 2019-20 (101.74) under Monty Williams, who led Phoenix to the NBA Finals the following season.
Devin Booker's wish to play faster should come true under Ott
Phoenix averaged 1.16 points per possession in transition during the regular season, but ranked second-lowest in frequency of fast break possessions.
As Booker has repeatedly emphasized, the key is to create more transition opportunities to generate more fastbreak buckets. Doing so will start with getting stops on the defensive end. Fans don't need the reminder, but the Suns had one of the lowest-rated defenses in the NBA last season.
Phoenix sought a first-time head coach after striking out with its previous two head coaches, Mike Budenholzer and Frank Vogel. Ott is highly regarded for his offensive philosophies and his ability to connect with players. Both of those traits should come in handy for the Suns, who desperately needed a new voice to lead the locker room. Ott's approach could pay off, at least with Booker.
Mat Ishbia doesn't want to trade Booker, and Booker doesn't want to leave the desert. A key to keeping him happy in Phoenix is winning, something the Suns haven't done enough of the past few seasons. They can only hope that'll change next season, which is why they wanted to bring in a new voice. Ott's Michigan State ties might've helped get his foot in the door, but hopefully, his role in shifting the culture will keep him around.