After spending six years as an assistant with the Nets, Jordan Ott returned to Brooklyn on Monday, this time as the head coach of the Suns, leading his team to a 126-117 win at Barclays Center.
Those six seasons were packed with ups and downs, to say the least.
“I have some great memories from those six years, honestly. There were really good people and players. I’ve seen it all unfold,” Ott shared. “But it’s nice to be back. The locker rooms feel a bit different, but I’m definitely ready for another game.”
Ott joined the Nets in 2016 on Kenny Atkinson’s staff. He played an integral role in their initial rebuilding phase and witnessed the formation of the Big Three. He outlasted Atkinson, contributing under the coaching of both Jacque Vaughn and Steve Nash. During his time, he experienced the Eastern Conference semifinals against Milwaukee and later took those hard-earned lessons with him to the Lakers in 2022.
Now, he’s leading the Suns, with former Nets forward DeMarre Carroll on his coaching staff.
“Reflecting on where we began, especially those early years with all the developmental phases—it felt like several different seasons,” Ott noted. “So it’s great to work with DeMarre now, bringing him into this mix—it’s kind of like when we started with Kenny. Heading into the playoffs with a group that’s still developing but has strong leadership really makes a difference. Then things shifted as we brought in superstars. We all faced challenges, but we grew closer through it all.”
“In Game 7, we were on the cusp. It’s vital to stay prepared for anything. You never know what’s coming next, but you tackle every day as a new challenge. Early on in Brooklyn, the lack of draft picks meant we had to maximize our resources. That was crucial for our mentality. We weren’t mired in restraints; instead, we focused on winning every night. It was overall a valuable experience,” he reflected.
The Nets began the game against the Suns with rookies Drake Powell and Terrence Mann in the backcourt, with Powell scoring 11 points and Mann contributing 10.
Michael Porter Jr. made his return after missing a prior game against Chicago, but rookie Egor Demin (managing a left plantar fascia injury), backup center Dayron Sharp (dealing with illness and a throat contusion), and Cam Thomas (managing a left hamstring injury) were all sidelined for the match against Phoenix.
Meanwhile, rookie Ben Saraf was down in the G League.
Jaylen Green played for the Suns and, during trade discussions about Mikal Bridges, the Nets turned down an offer from Houston that included Green along with several first-round draft picks. Ultimately, they secured five first-rounders and a player from the Knicks in exchange for Bridges.
