Head Coach Jordan Ott Practice Media Availability | Phoenix Suns | 12-4-25

Head Coach Jordan Ott Practice Media Availability | Phoenix Suns | 12-4-25

Hey, coach. Coach, I won’t fully join it, but uh just kind of wondering just just what’s the relief is for that be like a minor injury for Deon. Yeah, I think I mean he he knew he knew um he knows his body better than anyone. So super self-aware and he kind of felt it right away that you know it was hopefully just a minor strain. So then to get it confirmed I think that’s a relief to all of us. And then I think this will be obviously this is the first time that Mark has seen Houston because I think the last time he was out in that second back to back just what are you looking forward in terms of being able to combat their their uh ability on the glass? Yeah, just overall size. That’s that’s what they have. Ton of size across the board. Yeah, it’ll be a good test for Mark to know exactly how he can impact um going against those bigger teams. So, just the overall challenge, not only for Mark, but all of us to go on the road and play a really good team um into December. I think I think that’s a a next step for our group to see exactly where we’re at. How much does Kevin’s presence make it difficult for obviously more difficult in half court just to contain their actions? Yeah, totally. I mean, you obviously didn’t play the last game, so it’s it’s a new new person in their lineup that greatly affects their team. So, it’ll be almost a completely different scout with with him out there. How much have you heard from your coaching friends around the league about what you guys are doing, the way you guys are playing? Yeah, I think you get so locked into your team, you know, these these stretches in between are actually nice to just kind of watch more outside. So, I was able to do that the last couple nights. Um, I think we have internally we we kind of have a, you know, we’re trying to track the trends around the league. So, but there’s nothing new that we don’t know. I think from the outside that’s coming in is, you know, we want to play hard. We got a group of of guys that do play hard. Um, we want to be difficult to play against. We want to be that team where you see them on the schedule like, man, we got to go and play these guys, whether it’s the front end, the back to back, back end, and the back to back back to back to back or regular night. So, we want to be that group. Um, yeah, there there’s stuff that’s come to me, you know, with guys that I really really um have been a part of their staffs or or really trust. And it it’s all from the heart. And my thing is we got to keep going. I mean, it’s the core of the way in the season. it’s it’s so far away. Um this stretch we got to get better and that’s the exciting part is we we have room to grow. Um so that’s what I’m most looking forward to, but it it’s been a good start, but we we’re going to have to get better. Kind of piggybacking off that, you mentioned earlier in the year that there aren’t really days where the approach isn’t where you want it to be. It seems like that’s continued over the last month or so. Just how fun has it been for you to coach a team with that approach? That’s what we all hope and dream for as coaches is to come in every day and have a competitive, fun, together group. And and that’s where we that’s where we’re building towards and uh we haven’t had a ton of days of practice like in just be here in our facility um or days in between games. So this stretch has been good for that. Just kind of health, body, mind, everything to kind of recuperate, recover a little bit before we go into another tough stretch. So, um, yeah, overall in in a in a good place, but know there’s a lot of work to do. What you think of Rashir and Kaman’s performance last night, especially in the second half. It’s just another step, you know, just like we’re going to it’s if you want to ride the wave, you can ride the wave whether it’s here, whether it’s with the Valley. Obviously, great, but they took steps. They took steps in the right direction. Um, being in those competitive environments, end of game situations, and playing the right way. Um, and it’s great to have them around. Another blessing that we have with the G- League right here. They were able to play last night, then come over here and be a part of what what we’re doing. We did a little recap of quarter way through the season and they were able to be a part of it. So, we were able to celebrate their their game last night, too. And I think it’s important for the organization. We got guys working and why, you know, it was a lower day the last couple days. Those guys went and played and played in a competitive game and got better. So, that that that’s definitely helpful for for all of us. It’s been a few games now for each of them down there. What do you think they’re getting from it so far? Just extended runs at this time in their careers. Like it’s a different game and they’re in different situations than they even played in college. Like it’s um unique to those guys and their development is now they got to put it to action. There’s only so many reps you can take against coaches or against um you know in threeon-ree situations. You need the full totality of it to know exactly where you’re at. So, um, we know that their role is slightly different in the valley than what it would be for us, but some of the same things we want we want that to be able to translate. So, um, Rashir’s efficiency and man’s offensive glass and defensive presence like that that stuff translates. So, um, again, super thankful that it’s right here and we can take advantage of that and and those guys get really really good reps. You say you all of course be directional at the point of attack defensively. Um kind of in the layers of your defense and how you want to crowd gaps and kind of cover up drives. Saw some heel switches the last few games. How have you seen, you know, just kind of the little things with your defense grow to keep yourself in advantage on defense when teams are trying to create. You definitely picked up on it. Knew you would. We’re trying to add layers into this um as you go through the season. Again, without the practice refs, it’s hard. Then sometimes scouting or who you’re playing allows you to just kind of highlight it a little bit more. But it’s a credit to our guys like we’re building stuff in our system without practice reps. That’s really hard to do. And as a coach, you’re like it, should we go to it now? Should we hold it back? Wait a little bit longer. But then the guys teach us stuff and what you know how they’ve played these guys before. So we have added a couple layers defensively into it. But I do think our base is still our base. like we want to pick up the ball higher, be up at the level of the screen, be in the gaps, protect the paint. Um that we’ve obviously had some success turning teams over. That was a layer that we add in definitely more lately, but specifically in that LA game that we hope hopefully can have it continue throughout the season. With with Colin playing more, it feels like teams are trying to find ways to poke at the defense and trying to involve him in action more. Can you speak to kind of that option where we’ve seen teams in the even like the Cavs last year switched from giving him Sean recovers to, you know, just switching and kind of protecting around him. What goes into that coaching decision and how can you, you know, empower guys to like let them know, hey, we’re going to switch you to not concede rotations, but we got your back on. How do you watch Suns and Cavs films? That was a big thing in the offseason before last season. Um, as the season progresses into the playoffs, the playoffs is different. So, but definitely taking um Darius in that case and switching them more. And these guys are incredibly competitive individuals. And that’s Colin. Colin is incredibly competitive. He’s tough. He’s stronger strong for his size. Um and then we’ll build build back behind him. That’s where we’re at right now. So, we have it in our package to show, but we haven’t had to do it a ton. Um, even with Jamari, you know, they went to that a little bit, but when teams start to iso and start to pick on guys, like it it stops and stagnates ball movement, and that’s a balance that you have to have as coaches. And we we’ve decided to stick with that in in the LA game, but that’s something that we have in our package. But, you know, you hope you don’t have to get to it too quickly because you got a competitive dude on the basketball and we have enough support around him. But, yeah, right now we’re in in a switch um because Colin can guard. Seems like every game Mark comes up with a few critical steals just with his hands in passing lanes or when drivers are coming at him. Just how big has that been for him to kind of help you? I think you’re second in uh posting turnover percentage this year by OKC. Yeah, so we some of the things that we just went over, so it’s top of mind for sure is just our, you know, top five deflections up there and forcing turnovers. Um big part of that is Mark. you know, Mark when he’s on the floor is is uh disruptive and he just prevents rim attempts overall. Um, which is incredibly helpful. The teams just don’t even test him because of his size. So, yep. I think Mark, you know, for a lot of part of his career, it’s been back and drop. We’re still asking him like, can you be up even more? And part of that is so the ball handler sees a little bit more of a crowd at the point of attack. Um, he’s done a great job of being up. We’re going to continue to ask him to be up even more because he does have great hands. He can be disruptive and he has to know that we have his back on the backside. You know, a lot of a lot of times you don’t want to be as aggressive because you’re where your man’s going to score. That’s not something Mark thinks about. Mark Mark’s all about the team and it’s really helping our defense. On the offensive side, he’s running more pick and roll. Some of it because of injury, some of it because somebody should some of that usage. How you seeing his kind of patience and some people call him Barkley or Billy dribbles just to kind of get to his spots like a sol for you all usually kind of later in the clock primary. You said Dylan. You’re asking about Dylan. Yeah, Dylan. Dylan. Uh yeah. I mean Dylan’s been fantastic on that on that side of the ball. I think there’s some of these that he just continues to add parts to his game. I still go back to his work, you know. you know, the amount of work that he puts into his game. Never seen someone work harder. Um, but yeah, we you want to create a domino somehow. You’d like to create something early in the clock and then that’s what the NBA is at the end of clock. Like you’re going to need to get a shot up. Any shots better than the turnover. So, he’s done a great job of finding when to attack, when to iso, when to swing it, when to, you know, play pick and roll even a little bit now. So, now it’s going to change again with with with book out. So, um, that’s those ever moving pieces of the NBA that you just have to be so adaptable. Um, and you can’t get stuck. You got to keep growing, keep knowing who’s out on the floor. He’s going to add Grayson back into the picture, lose book for, you know, for, you know, tomorrow. So, um, Dylan has a great feel and I’m I assume his juices will be rolling tomorrow night. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks, coach. place yet. You

Head Coach Jordan Ott speaks to the media following Phoenix Suns practice on December 4th, 2025 before the team’s three-game road trip.

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