How Jordan Ott earned his ‘valley moment’ in first win as Suns head coach

PHOENIX – In the season opener, Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott had the first of many ‘valley moments’. It was an atypical game, considering The sun set by 20 during the second quarter.

But both Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks showed no real surprise in a 120-116 comeback win over the Sacramento Kings. In fact, they expected a win for their first coach.

A win like Wednesday’s highlighted the Suns’ new culture, one rooted in toughness, defense and camaraderie.

As soon as Ott entered the locker room, the team already had a water bath ready for him. He fully expected it and accepted how hard his team worked to get the win.

Booker himself has seen his fair share of head coaches, but something already feels different about Otto.

Devin Booker said as Jordan Ott walked into the locker room and the team celebrated its first win.

“It’s a big moment. It’s his ‘Welcome to the Valley’ moment.” pic.twitter.com/8SPiV0KsuOO

— Hayden Cilley (@HaidenCilley) October 23, 2025

“We gave him a water bath there,” Booker explained after the game. “They put together a nice little video of his family and friends to congratulate him. It’s a big moment.

“It’s a welcome moment in the valley. He’s got the first one under his belt, and we’re all coming together.”

The Suns rallied around Jordan Ott’s first win

Before his first game as a head coach, Ott didn’t feel any different. The preparation was the same, the feeling was the same, and the execution was the same.

Although he had messages from family, friends, as well as colleagues and even the media, he did not act in phases. The only thing that was really different was the title of the assistant who was replaced as the head coach.

When he hit the locker room, he knew what he was in for.

“I was expecting some water, but I was expecting it on the front end. They caught me on the back end. And like you can get room temperature water, it wasn’t room temperature water,” Ott said, laughing.

He paused and thought about how profound the win really was for his boys.

“But it’s not about me, I mean, they’re out there playing,” Ott said. “We’re just part of it, we’re on the way. Any way we can help them, that’s what we’re going to do there.”

“I’m very grateful once again for the opportunity to be with who I am. And the players, I mean, it’s always about the players.”

Dillon Brooks might be Jordan Ott’s #1 fan

If anything is certain, it might be how intertwined Brooks’ and Otto’s basketball ideologies are. For example, both are a bit of an underdog and play (or coach) with a chip on their shoulder.

Ott was a finalist for the 2024 Charlotte Hornets coaching job, where Charles Lee took over. Still, he ended up leading one of the best offenses the NBA has ever seen in terms of points per game and offensive rating.

Even when I’m the head coach, there’s the same fire and intensity. And it’s a perfect match for Brooks.

Winning was something else he felt was fully deserved.

“He’s ready to get where he is today, he’s special,” Brooks said. “He’s in that office on the practice field every day until 8-9 p.m. I know I’ve been there.”

“Over the summer, he’s jumping, passing the ball, doing drills, you see it.”

Small things caught the attention of people around the league. however, Otto’s former colleagues already knew thatbut now players are experiencing it first hand.

With the Suns facing the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, it will be another key test to see how many more of these ‘valley moments’ will surface.