Jordan Ott revealed a telling pre-draft memory of Devin Booker during his introductory press conference as the new head coach of the Phoenix Suns.
"I'll tell you a little story about Devin, 1-on-0 workout in a draft workout," Ott shared during Tuesday's event. "It was just coach, player, rebounder, and I can remember how he communicated and competed with himself in a 1-on-0 workout, and we left that workout knowing that he was different."
Ott, who was working as a video coordinator with the Atlanta Hawks in 2015 when he first encountered Booker, now steps into his first head coaching role with the franchise's star guard firmly in his plans.
The appointment comes amid significant changes in Phoenix, with owner Mat Ishbia and new general manager Brian Gregory reshaping the organization after cycling through three coaches in as many years.
Interestingly, Booker himself was involved in the coaching search this time around and gave his approval for Ott's hiring. This collaborative approach seems to be part of the strategy to keep the Suns' all-time leading scorer happy in Phoenix.
"We need to help him, and that's my job as a coach, to help him in multiple areas, help him find solutions so he knows that he has us behind him," Ott explained. "Make or miss. End of game. Game on the line. Make or miss, we're buying him."
Beyond their brief pre-draft encounter, Ott emphasized building a stronger connection with Booker moving forward. Speaking on Arizona Sports' Burns and Gambo Show, he described it as an "extremely, extremely high priority to connect, spend time, to meet him where he is, to listen to how he sees the game."
While Booker provides a cornerstone for Ott's tenure, questions remain about the supporting cast. A potential Kevin Durant trade looms large over the franchise's immediate future.
Can Ott's collaborative approach with Booker translate to on-court success? The answer may depend on how quickly they develop chemistry and what roster moves follow in the coming months.
