Devin Booker won’t suit up when the Suns take on the Pistons, sidelined after rolling his left ankle late in the third quarter of a gritty loss to the Miami Heat. He did re-enter in the fourth, giving everything he had in a game that kicked off Phoenix’s six-game road trip on a sour note. But now, with Booker out, the spotlight shifts - not just to the players stepping up, but to the man orchestrating it all: head coach Jordan Ott.
There’s no question the Suns need Booker on the floor if they want to make a real playoff push. He’s the engine, the closer, the identity.
But his absence - while far from ideal - opens a window for Ott to showcase just how sharp his coaching mind really is. And truth be told, he’s already been doing just that all season long.
This is a Suns team many didn’t expect to sniff 30 wins. Yet here they are, holding their own on both ends of the floor and playing a brand of basketball that’s tougher, smarter, and more connected than what the preseason projections suggested. That’s coaching.
Defensively, they’ve flirted with elite status. Offensively, they’ve been timely and efficient - especially when it counts.
Just look at the fourth-quarter shooting numbers. Phoenix has not one, but two of the top 10 three-point shooters in crunch time this season.
Royce O’Neale leads the league, drilling 54.7% of his threes in the fourth quarter, while Collin Gillespie isn’t far behind at 45.2%. These aren’t just good numbers - they’re game-changing.
And they speak to a team that doesn’t just shoot well, but shows up in the moments that matter.
That kind of late-game execution doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a reflection of preparation, buy-in, and a coach who knows how to put his players in the right spots.
Speaking of players, let’s talk about the development happening in Phoenix. Dillon Brooks, Collin Gillespie, and Mark Williams are all having career years.
That’s not a coincidence. And it’s not just about stats - it’s about roles, confidence, and fit.
Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale have both played their way into legitimate trade value, which says a lot about how they’ve been utilized.
Then there’s the backcourt duo of Jordan Goodwin and Jamaree Bouyea. On paper, this shouldn’t work.
Both were castoffs heading into the season, the kind of players you expect to see fighting for minutes, not leading stretches of competitive basketball. But Ott has found a way to maximize their strengths, turning them into reliable contributors in a rotation that’s leaned heavily on next-man-up mentality.
With Booker out and Jalen Green still easing his way back, expect Brooks to take on a larger offensive role. He’s shown he can handle that kind of responsibility - and now he’ll likely be the focal point until Green returns. The real intrigue, though, might be how Ott adjusts the scheme around him.
Will Grayson Allen step into a secondary creator role like he flashed earlier this season? That’s on the table. And don’t be surprised if Isaiah Livers finds himself with a bigger role too - Ott’s been a believer in what Livers brings to the floor.
Sure, the Suns might drop a few games without Booker. That’s reality.
But don’t expect them to roll over. This is one of the hardest-playing teams in the league - a group that grinds, scrambles, and makes life miserable for opponents.
That kind of effort doesn’t disappear just because your star is in street clothes.
If anything, they might dig in even deeper. And with Ott pulling the strings and getting creative with his lineups and sets, the Suns could still find ways to surprise people. The best may still be ahead - even with Booker temporarily out of the picture.