The Phoenix Suns organization signaled a new direction on Tuesday, introducing Jordan Ott as their new head coach and Brian Gregory as the general manager, fostering a reformed sense of identity at the Suns' Verizon 5G Performance Center. Ott's appointment comes as the franchise seeks stability and a return to winning ways, with many anticipating the impact of his leadership.

The selection of Jordan Ott followed a thorough search by GM Brian Gregory, who reportedly considered nearly fifteen candidates. Ott, a former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant who was also in contention for the Charlotte Hornets' head coaching position in 2024, distinguished himself through his profound basketball acumen and his ability to connect with individuals both on and off the court. While questions arose regarding Ott's Michigan State ties—an alma mater shared with GM Gregory and owner Mat Ishbia—his extensive 20-year experience in basketball, which began as a video coordinator at Michigan State and saw him rise through the ranks, underscored his readiness for the role. Ott himself deflected concerns about these ties, emphasizing his long journey and earned expertise in the game.

At his introductory press conference, Ott outlined a coaching philosophy centered on building strong relationships and fostering player development. He emphasized the importance of connecting with players, stating, “I think like any good team, you're trying to find a way to connect... It all comes back to time. Spending time with these guys, developing that relationship so that when something goes a little off, you know. Then we can quickly get everyone back on the same page, moving in the right direction.”

Offensively, Ott highlighted “pace” as a key tenet, aiming for the team to play early in the shot clock, generate extra possessions, and exhibit strong connectivity through moving bodies and effective cutting to adapt to the modern NBA. Defensively, he plans to address the previous season's perceived lack of effort by instilling an “aggressive” style, drawing comparisons to teams like the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder. Crucially, Ott stressed that enhanced “communication” would be vital to counteracting increasingly complex opposing offenses.

General Manager Brian Gregory elaborated on the decision to hire Ott, emphasizing that contemporary players seek quality, strong values, and respectful treatment from their head coach. “Players today want quality... They want substance. They want to know, as Jordan just said, that this guy knows what he's talking about and can help them grow as a player while also incorporating that growth into the success of the team,” Gregory remarked. He noted that after consulting various sources, including former and current players, coaches, and assistants, Ott exemplified the desired characteristics of honesty, clear standards, and accountability.

Ott's approach to player development and incorporating growth, particularly for younger talent, marks a potential shift. The limited playing time for rookies like Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro under previous coaching was a point of frustration for some fans. Both Dunn and Ighodaro were present at Ott's press conference, signaling support. The new coach expressed his commitment to helping players “at every phase of their game… develop them, get to a new level that they didn't think they could get to.”

The new head coach is also eager to work with the team's established stars, including Devin Booker. Ott shared a pre-draft workout story from 2015 where Booker's intense competitiveness was evident, noting the superstar's rise was no surprise. Booker reportedly endorsed Ott for the head coaching position. The team also features Kevin Durant, though his future with the Suns this offseason has been a subject of discussion.

Ott takes the helm of a franchise that has seen significant coaching turnover, with three head coaches—Monty Williams, Frank Vogel, and most recently Budenholzer—fired in the past three years. His challenge is to bring consistency, synergy, and a winning culture back to Phoenix. Described as straight-forward, well-spoken, and passionate during his introduction, Ott, in his first professional head coaching gig, carries the expectation of elevating the Suns back to the standards set in 2021 and establishing a lengthy, successful run in the Valley of the Sun.