The Golden State Warriors may have come away with the win, but it was Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott who earned a rare nod of respect from across the court. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, never one to toss around praise lightly-especially when it comes to opposing coaches-made it clear that what Ott is building in Phoenix has caught his attention.
“They have a real identity. Jordan has done a fantastic job,” Kerr said before their recent matchup. “One of the most impressive stories in the league when you consider where people expected them to be and where they actually are.”
That’s not just coach-speak. Coming from someone with Kerr’s résumé, those words carry weight. And frankly, it’s hard to disagree.
Ott stepped into one of the most challenging situations in the league this season. The Suns hit the reset button in the offseason-revamping the front office, overhauling the coaching staff, and parting ways with Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. That’s not just a roster shake-up; that’s a full-scale identity reboot.
Expectations? Modest at best.
But instead of floundering, Phoenix has stayed competitive, even through early turbulence like a 3-5 start. They’ve leaned into discipline and effort, building a foundation that doesn’t rely on superstar isolation plays or flashy headlines.
Ott has emphasized development, structure, and a clear tactical approach-something that’s starting to resonate on the court.
If this trajectory holds, Phoenix’s rebuild might be moving faster than anyone anticipated. It’s not just about wins and losses right now-it’s about culture, and Ott seems to be laying the right bricks.
But while Kerr had high praise for Phoenix ahead of the game, his mood took a sharp turn after the final whistle.
Golden State dropped a tough one to the Suns, and the ending left Kerr-and the Warriors bench-frustrated. With just 0.4 seconds left on the clock, a loose-ball foul call sent Jordan Goodwin to the free-throw line, where he iced the game. The foul came on what Kerr described as a chaotic scramble following an air ball that hit the side of the backboard.
“It’s hard to believe that the game was decided on that call,” Kerr said postgame. “Guys behind the bench told me that Moses [Moody] got all ball. Everybody’s tangled up… That, to me, it better be a foul to decide the game on a play like that.”
He wasn’t questioning the effort-just the ending. Kerr felt his team executed well down the stretch and had earned a shot at overtime. Instead, they walked off the floor with a third straight loss and a 13-15 record that doesn’t quite reflect how competitive they’ve been in recent games.
For the Warriors, the frustration is understandable. For the Suns, the signs of growth are undeniable. And for Jordan Ott, the respect of a championship coach like Steve Kerr is a strong sign that Phoenix is moving in the right direction.