Suns new coach Jordan Ott explains how he plans to prove his talent
Phoenix Suns news head coach Jordan Ott talks about his philosophy and general manager Brian Gregory speaks to why they chose Ott.
The Suns, who hold the 29th and 52nd picks in the draft, have also worked out Danny Wolf and Grant Nelson.
Caleb Grill sees himself in someone Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott worked with as an assistant in Cleveland — Cavaliers guard Max Strus.
“Watching his intensity that he plays with on both ends of the floor and how he shoots the ball,” Grill said Monday, June 9 after a pre-draft workout with the Golden State Warriors. “How he impacts winning in so many different ways.”
The 2024-25 SEC Sixth Man of the Year out of Missouri already had pre-draft workouts with the Suns, Boston Celtics, New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Clippers before his session Monday with the Warriors.
“The feedback I’ve gotten is to keep playing to my strengths, doing what I did at Mizzou this past season and that’s shoot the ball at a very good level and keep having high intensity on the defensive end and keep bringing toughness is what I do,” Grill said.
A 6-3, 205-pound guard from Wichita, Kansas, Grill averaged a career-high 13.7 points, shooting 39.6% from 3 (78-of-197) and posting 49 steals this past season for Missouri.
“Just keep playing to my strengths and just getting adjusted to the game is something that’s going to start my career to get adjusted to NBA and pro basketball,” Grill continued. “Just continuing to do my strengths and do them at an efficient level is what I need to do to help prepare myself for the best in the future.”
Michigan big Danny Wolf, Alabama forward Grant Nelson and Nevada guard Kobe Sanders have also had pre-draft workouts with the Suns. Phoenix has the 29th overall pick in the first round and the 52nd overall selection in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft June 25-26 in Brooklyn.
Auburn big and first-team All-American Johni Broome, said after a pre-draft workout Thursday, June 12, with the Warriors that he has an upcoming scheduled visit with the Suns.
Grill said he has workouts scheduled with the Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks and is trying to set another with the Indiana Pacers.
Indiana took a 2-1 lead in the 2025 NBA Finals with a 116-107 Game 3 win Wednesday, June 11, over top overall seed Oklahoma City.
Game 4 is Friday, June 13, in Indianapolis.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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