Why the Suns’ Jordan Ott should be the 2025-26 NBA Coach of the Year

There is especially a lot of pressure on first-year coaches Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott. Although he was ready to be a head coach after spending the previous seven seasons as an assistant coach, he had a task unlike any of his predecessors.

Phoenix had high championship expectations, which he failed to fulfill by a large margin. That led to a massive review of the Kevin Durant trade and the release of Bradley Beal. However, the The Suns believed hiring Otto could cover up a dark pastand it seems to be doing just that.

Through 39 games, they have a record of 24-15, much to everyone’s surprise. Outsiders were shocked, but no one in the organization had any doubts. When he was hired, the team went through a series of candidates, and Ott impressed everyone.

They even got Devin Booker’s approval before putting pen to paper. His hiring raised some eyebrows because of the apparent connection between him, general manager Brian Gregory and majority owner Matt Ishbia at Michigan State.

Ot immediately denied, saying that he deserved to be in that position. It can be said that his claim has come true. Again, everyone is impressed except the people in the organization.

Players mentioned how late the first-year head coach would be to practice, breaking down film. It may have seemed over the top and maybe a bit cliche, but it pays dividends.

Jordan Ott established the culture and identity of the Suns

More often than not, the culture comes from the players and leaders in the locker room. Yes, some coaches in the NBA set the tone, but that mantra belongs to more experienced coaches, not rookies.

That assertiveness charmed the team, and Otto’s gravitas attracted every player. As a result, Colin Gillespie, Dillon Brooks and Grayson Allen are having career years.

The latter two are more valuable case studies, given that they are veterans in the league. A coach who gives you the green light, along with a sense of balance with analytics, makes everyone feel comfortable.

But that doesn’t give anyone the green light to quit.

If someone does that, step on them and it gives off that intensity. On game days, that intensity is channeled into stoicism. The practice facility is meant to be fine-tuned, and Ot will do whatever it takes.

Some guys talk trash while building others or mixing the two. Gillespie shared with ClutchPoints that his head coach has a good sense of when to bring the intensity.

“JO is also a player’s coach in terms of just feeling guys on and off the court,” Gillespie said pregame before the Suns faced the Nuggets in late November. “He knows when he has to be intense and when to step up his intensity to try to knock it out of us if we’re having a slower, sluggish day.”

“He’s really good at it as far as just feeling out of the room and feeling for his players.”

Head coaches respect and see what Jordan Ott is building with the Suns

Ott may be shy about admitting his credit so far, but others aren’t afraid to say it for him. While he credits the ability to practice, player involvement and top-to-bottom leadership, he has significant weight in the team’s success.

While it is Suns and Ott deserve respect across the league, multiple coaches know this is no fluke. Success is here to stay.

Before the Oklahoma City Thunder played Phoenix for the first time, head coach Mark Daigno gave big props to what Ott is building. The the same goes for Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.

“They have a real identity. I think Jordan has done a fantastic job. They’re really well organized offensively, and then defensively they just play hard, every night,” Kerr said before the Warriors’ Dec. 18 game against the Suns.

“Really tough team, very impressive. To me, one of the most impressive stories in the league is when you consider where people expected them to be and where they actually are. It’s just a clear identity and playing hard every night.”

“They have a real identity. Jordan (Ott) has done a fantastic job. . . . One of the most compelling stories in the league when you consider where people expected them to be and where they actually are.”

Steve Kerr with high praise for the Sun 🙌

(via @HaidenCilley) pic.twitter.com/Ag5ISC2CF8

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 19, 2025

Jordan Ott has the respect of Suns players

A wise person always said that respect is not given, but earned. Ott knew he was entering a head coaching job with one of the league’s most coveted stars in Devin Booker.

The four-time NBA All-Star and two-time All-NBA guard has unfortunately seen his carousel of head coaches come and go. The longest coach he had was Monty Williams, who lasted only four seasons.

After Williams’ departure, Frank Vogel and Mike Budenholzer coached for just one season. As soon as the offseason began, they hired an NBA assistant in Otto. His record may have seemed like he was playing it safe, but that’s what they needed.

He’s turned into the hardest worker in the room, and everyone follows him.

Someone like Brooks knows a thing or two about being a workhorse. During training camp and media days, he talked about what Ott is like gym rat in its own sense. Staying in the facility for almost 12 hours breaking the film once again proved useful.

Also, seasoned veterans such as Royce O’Neale began to push for the award.

“He has a way of connecting with players, putting us in positions to succeed, connecting us offensively and defensively,” O’Neal said after the Suns’ win over the Washington Wizards in January.

“He’s also willing to listen, see what we’re seeing out there when he’s coaching us, he’s listening to Devin (Booker) in the game. I think it just says it all.”

The Suns have emerged as a potential lottery team for one of the league’s best stories. And that’s partly for Jordan Ott and what he’s built and will continue to build.

A coach of the year award would not satisfy Otto in the least, but it would certainly be deserved given what he inherited and what was expected.