Phoenix Suns Finding Their Identity Under Jordan Ott - And Earning Every Bit of Respect
SCOTTSDALE - The Phoenix Suns weren’t supposed to be here. At least, not according to the preseason chatter that had them pegged as a team headed for the Western Conference basement. But 26 games into the 2025-26 season, they’re not just hanging around - they’re competing, they’re scrapping, and they’re starting to look like a team with a purpose.
Jordan Ott feels that the Suns have earned respect, despite the lack of it heading into the season.
— Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) December 17, 2025
"It's easy from the outside... (but) the only way to get better is to be in the heat. Our group enjoys it and we want to be in those environments." pic.twitter.com/ajhdVojjdi
A big reason why? First-year head coach Jordan Ott.
Ott wasn’t a headline hire when the Suns brought him in, but he’s proving to be exactly what this team needed - a sharp basketball mind with a strong grasp of the X’s and O’s, but also someone who connects with his players on a human level. That combination is rare, and it’s working.
The Suns sit seventh in the West with a 14-12 record. That might not leap off the page, but given where expectations were just a few months ago, it’s a significant step forward. The team’s identity is beginning to take shape - and it’s one built on effort, toughness, and accountability.
At practice on Tuesday, Ott was asked whether he feels the team has earned back the league’s respect. His answer reflected his mindset: always forward, always hungry.
“Every day, you fight for respect,” Ott said. “This league changes too fast.
Too many things can happen. LeBron is still out there fighting, so it’s like every day you get out there.
We’re all trying to be the best we can, really challenge ourselves to grow. The only way to do that is to play, be in the arena.”
He’s not wrong. In a league that evolves by the week, nothing is handed out - and Ott knows that better than most.
But whether he wants to admit it or not, his team is earning respect, and not just from fans or media. Coaches around the league are taking notice, too.
Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault recently praised the Suns for their defense, their urgency, and the way they’ve embraced the grind. That’s not lip service - that’s recognition from one of the sharper minds in the game.
And here’s the kicker: Phoenix is doing this without Jalen Green, who’s only played two games this season. In one of those, the Suns blew the doors off the Clippers, offering a glimpse of what this team might look like at full strength. That potential is real - and it’s scary.
But the respect Phoenix is earning isn’t about what could be. It’s about what they’ve already become: a team that plays hard, stays connected, and doesn’t back down.
That wasn’t always the case last season. The 2024-25 Suns lacked the same grit, the same edge, and frankly, the same belief.
That shift starts at the top. Ott has brought a new energy and a clear vision, and the players are buying in.
Dillon Brooks, known for his on-court edge and defensive tenacity, has become a tone-setter in the locker room. He’s embraced Ott’s leadership - and the feeling is mutual.
Brooks has openly backed his coach, and that kind of player-coach synergy is invaluable when you’re trying to build something sustainable.
Devin Booker has also thrown his support behind Ott, especially after the coach picked up his first win earlier this season. Booker’s leadership has been a steadying force for this group, and having him aligned with Ott sends a strong message: this is the direction the franchise is moving in - and everyone’s on board.
Of course, Ott isn’t satisfied. He knows there’s more work to do. But that’s the mindset you want from your head coach - especially when you’re trying to turn the page on a string of underwhelming seasons.
The Suns aren’t just trying to be better. They’re trying to be different.
And through 26 games, they’re doing just that. The culture is shifting.
The identity is forming. And Jordan Ott’s fingerprints are all over it.
In the Valley of the Sun, a new era of basketball is taking shape - and it’s happening faster than anyone expected.