Why Suns' Jordan Ott should be in running for NBA Coach of Year

Q: What is Jordan Ott's coaching record with the Phoenix Suns?

Jordan Ott has led the Phoenix Suns to a 45-37 record in his first season as head coach.

Q: Why should Jordan Ott be considered for NBA Coach of the Year?

Jordan Ott should be considered for NBA Coach of the Year due to his successful management of a competitive season and overcoming significant player injuries.

Q: Who did Jordan Ott replace as head coach of the Suns?

Jordan Ott replaced Mike Budenholzer as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns.

Q: How did the Suns perform compared to last season under Jordan Ott?

The Suns improved their standing by four spots in the Western Conference, finishing seventh compared to their previous season's performance.

Jordan Ott has had a huge say in the Phoenix Suns having a surprise season.

That’s a major reason why he should be considered for 2025-26 NBA Coach of the Year.

“First-year coach, the expectations people had of us,” Suns big Oso Ighodaro said. “And to do it in the West this year with how competitive the West was. More importantly than the results, just who he is and how he’s handled this season. His character has been high level. He’s been elite.”

The Suns made the now 41-year-old Ott their fourth head in four seasons last summer in replacing Mike Budenholzer after a 36-win season with a Big 3 of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.

Ott took on the challenge that included long-term injuries to key players and coached the Suns (45-37) to seventh in the West, four spots better than last season.

Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) shoots a three-point basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Paycom Center.

Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) moves the ball down the court as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain (3) defends during the first quarter at Paycom Center.

Phoenix Suns guard Amir Coffey (2) dunks against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Paycom Center.

Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) drives down the court beside Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain (3) during the first half at Paycom Center.

Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) goes up for a basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Paycom Center.

Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) dunks against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Paycom Center.

Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) high-fives his team after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Paycom Center.

Phoenix Suns guard Jamaree Bouyea (17) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder forward Payton Sandfort (14) during the first quarter at Paycom Center.

General view of the arena prior to the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center on April 12, 2026, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

General view of the entrance to the court prior to the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center on April 12, 2026, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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Phoenix Suns take on OKC Thunder in final game of regular season

Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) shoots a three-point basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Paycom Center.

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Phoenix Suns take on OKC Thunder in final game of regular season

Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) shoots a three-point basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Paycom Center.

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Phoenix Suns take on OKC Thunder in final game of regular season

Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) moves the ball down the court as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain (3) defends during the first quarter at Paycom Center.

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Phoenix Suns take on OKC Thunder in final game of regular season

Phoenix Suns guard Amir Coffey (2) dunks against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Paycom Center.

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Phoenix Suns take on OKC Thunder in final game of regular season

Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) drives down the court beside Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain (3) during the first half at Paycom Center.

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Phoenix Suns take on OKC Thunder in final game of regular season

Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) goes up for a basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Paycom Center.

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Phoenix Suns take on OKC Thunder in final game of regular season

Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) dunks against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Paycom Center.

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Phoenix Suns take on OKC Thunder in final game of regular season

Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) high-fives his team after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Paycom Center.

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Phoenix Suns take on OKC Thunder in final game of regular season

Phoenix Suns guard Jamaree Bouyea (17) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder forward Payton Sandfort (14) during the first quarter at Paycom Center.

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Phoenix Suns take on OKC Thunder in final game of regular season

General view of the arena prior to the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center on April 12, 2026, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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Phoenix Suns take on OKC Thunder in final game of regular season

General view of the entrance to the court prior to the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center on April 12, 2026, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The Suns will look to advance to the playoffs through the play-in tournament as they’ll face the Portland Trail Blazers (42-40) in the 7-8 Play-In game April 14 at Mortgage Matchup Center.

The winner will advance to the Western Conference playoffs as the seventh seed. The loser gets one more shot, on April 17, against the winner of the No. 9 Clippers vs. No. 10 Warriors Play-In game, which is April 15.

“When you’re around the league for so many years, just in basketball, you’re really grateful for a group that likes each other,” Ott said, who won Western Conference coach of the month in January. “That’s stuff, we as coaches, it’s really hard to generate. We have good guys who are about the right stuff.”

The Suns have their share of award candidates aside from Ott.

Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) shoots a three point basket against Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva (23) during the second half at Kia Center in Orlando, on March 31, 2026.

Most improved: Collin Gillespie

Gillespie averaged a career-high 12.7 points in his second season in Phoenix, setting the franchise single-season record for made 3s at 232.

Gillespie went 39-of-90 last season on 3s as a two-way contract player. He spent much of 2024-25 with the Valley Suns G League team.

Playing all but two games this season, Gillespie is one of nine players in NBA history to have 350-plus assists, 230-plus 3-pointers and 95-plus steals in a season. He started 58 games after collecting just nine starts last season.

Gillespie scored a career-high 30 points in a road win Feb. 3 over the Blazers.

Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (23) celebrates drawing an offensive foul against the Denver Nuggets at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 24, 2026.

All-Defensive team: Jordan Goodwin

One of the league leaders in steals, Goodwin has averaged two-plus steals in 31 games off the bench, the most among NBA reserves this season.

He averaged 1.5 steals in his second season with the Suns.

The Suns finished ninth in the NBA in defensive rating, with Goodwin their best on-ball defender. He’s also able to defend bigger players in the post despite standing just 6-3.

Goodwin earned the 2026 Dan Majerle Hustle Award.

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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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns player makes strong case for Jordan Ott to win NBA COY