Head Coach Jordan Ott Media Availability | Phoenix Suns Training Camp Day 5

Head Coach Jordan Ott Media Availability | Phoenix Suns Training Camp Day 5

Tuesday learned about Devon in this setting environment that maybe you didn’t know that stood out to you? I think when you’re around a lot of really really good players, um, entering camp year after year after year, you quickly find out how much he enjoys practice and he enjoys the process of all this. I think that started before even camp began. um that I could see that he appreciates just how it all looks and feels and comes together um being with his teammates. So, I don’t know if I didn’t anticipate that. I just didn’t know prior to being around, you know, and when you get into these years 8 9 10 11 12 13, you know, some of these guys have been in a lot of camps. And um I think that’s been something that we’ve taken away from week one is just how involved he is with with the group. and how he approaches every day in a in a professional serious manner. How how often have you guys had like oneonone maybe off to the side where you’re saying to him, “Hey, look, I need this from you.” He’s saying, “Well, you know, that back and forth and and figuring out things.” I know that started day one. It didn’t just start here practice. You know, I got the job in June. That is uh you know, that partnership and relationship started early and continues every day at I’m learning him. you know, it’s it’s more me asking questions of and watching film to see how he has played and and then taking stuff to him, but um he knows he can come in and ask any any time. All of us, you know, any information that we get on any player during practice, out of practice, they hopefully know that they can come in and be a participant in in what we’re building. Last thing I had was the film work that you’re doing from this day camp. What things are you looking for in film and then you end up applying the next day? We’re just starting with the bigger rocks. You know, there’s mistakes that happen, especially when you you’re coaching the offense and the defense. When you’re playing Suns on Suns, there’s a lot of film to look at. I think uh initially it’s just our initial style of play and how we want to play. And I think we’re emphasizing that every day in multiple different ways. And you know, we we’ll really see when it gets to game time. that that’s the important piece when we get to Friday and we see against another team is our style of play sticking? Does it fit with our glue? I know each job has its, you know, unique challenges and circumstances, but this job seems interesting from your perspective because outside of Booker, which obviously the Sun kind of revolves around him, uh, but, um, you know, outside of Booker’s role being kind of obvious, it really seems like a blank canvas. Like this roster could go lots of different ways, you know, different there’s no, you know, set roles really. I mean, do do you feel that way that you’ve got a lot of kind of freedom, maybe even more so, to shape this roster in the way that you you see fit? I think that it’s what we do as coaches. It’s like uh you know, you’re trying to be the best you can with your five guys on the court versus the other five guys on the court. So, you know, it changes. It changes mid game. Um pick and roll coverages change mid game. Your substitution patterns change. So our whole goal is whoever’s oppo on the opposite side, we’re beating up, you know, so it’s our five verse their five and our roster does have a lot of versatility and and uh you know the youth is apparent and it’s also means we have a lot of new guys on our roster. There’s not a ton of continuity. So, I think early on in this that we get as many reps as we can against each other, but keeping the big rocks the big rocks. Like the competitiveness and aggressiveness of this group is how they got here. A lot of guys, that’s how they got here. So, that that’s a bonus and we got to keep that the main thing. What are your first impressions of Rashier? Yeah, Rashier from from day one, you can see when he walks in the building that, you know, his length is there. 75 wingspan. Um, moves very well. You know, I think what I saw a lot on film too with him in college is he played on the perimeter, which um is not always the case with a guy that size. Um he’s going to be challenged to guard some of the best players in the world when he’s out there on the court. So, there’ll be a learning curve to that, but he can get through some of that with his day-to-day approach, which is high level, great professional habits, and then his just overall energy and enthusiasm to attack. doesn’t matter which assignment it is, you know, he has great example like Ryan Dunn is a great example for him to uh mimic, you know, in this first year. Coach, what have you seen so far just with Jaylen Green and Book being able to work off each other and and build that chemistry? I think it is where we want it to be. You know, it’s it’s both of them handling at different times and they’re trying to figure each other out. um they’ve basically stayed on the same team the entire time the first five days. You know, we want to play so fast that it’s really who the inbounder, who the rebounder sees first and then whoever gets it brings it. We have some simple triggers and they’re learning. They’re learning, you know, okay, Jaylen has it, so Book is here. Book has it. Where’s Jaylen going? Now Jaylen has to work off the ball. Book’s more comfortable off the ball than than Jaylen at times. Um, and we’re implementing new style of play for everyone. So, our movement patterns, where the ball goes is is different for everyone. And Book’s just a more veteran player at this time off the ball that I think that’s something that we have to continue to work with Jaylen on. Um, because we know with the ball, he’s extremely explosive. He has the ability to get downhill, which we’ll we’ll definitely need. Back to Dwayne’s question about uh embracing practice. In your experience, do you still have great players that aren’t great at practice, embracing practice? I mean, does Allen Iver are there any Allen Iverson’s left? I mean, not the not the great players I’ve been around. So, great players I’ve been around are professional. They come in shape, come to camp with a focus. Um, they come with a like a helping hand. They’re helping other people and they’re trying to find solutions all together, coaches, players to players. Um, you know, it it it has to work and make sense for the best players for for the right reasons because they’ve seen it all. So, I haven’t been around those guys. Um, and obviously Book is Book is not that he he always comes in ready to rock. I get the sense I could be wrong, but I get the sense you’re like you you want to see it on the floor. Are all the main guys going to play that first game or Well, I think Dwayne, what we have is a little different preseason because of our China trip and because of that fourth game after that puts a little curveball in all this. We have to get our guys ready and our group faster than probably normal. We obviously started early, but we only have three games. You know, that fourth game is going to be different. You fly back from China, two days later you play. So, I think our minutes will be um minutes will be organized and scheduled out here these first couple games because we need to get them there. We need to get them there fast. So, Friday will be a good test. You know, depending on who who they play, we know they started camp a little later. So, uh we want to play against someone else at the end of this camp. You know, at the end of the day, seven, eight straight practices against the same teammates. I think they’ll all be ready to play someone else. So, the main guys the main guy to play I think everything, you know, like we’ve seen in camp, everyone’s here, we’re going to play whatever minutes that is as hard as we possibly can. Um, but we’re not going to go overboard and play someone, you know, their maximum minutes here right off the bat. Thanks, coach. Thanks, Jordan. Yep. that you’re

Head Coach Jordan Ott speaks to the media following Day 5 of Phoenix Suns Training Camp on September 30th, 2025. Ott talks about his relationship with Devin Booker and how Book enjoys this time of year, what it’s like coaching a new team, what he’s seen out of Rasheer Fleming, Book and Jalen Green’s chemistry, and Friday’s preseason game.

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