You can argue that Kevin Durant is the best player on the Phoenix Suns’ roster. But you can’t deny that their franchise player is clearly Devin Booker. And it’s not just the Phoenix front office or their fans who feel this way. Even Devin’s new coach, Jordan Ott knows this as he revealed how he knew early on that the Suns’ guard would become one of the NBA’s best players.

See, Jordan Ott and Devin Booker go way back. We’re talking the pre-NBA kind of way back. And even before he joined the league, Jordan Ott saw some things that showed him a glimpse of the 28-year-old’s incredible potential. Tonight, at his introductory press conference, he revealed what he saw at the pre-Draft workout that convinced him that Devin was going to be a star.

“I’ll tell you a little story about Devin one-on-one workout in a draft workout. Um, again, it was just coach, player, rebounder, and I can remember how he communicated and competed with himself in a one-on-one workout. And we left that workout knowing that he was different,” said the newly appointed head coach of the Suns.

But that’s not all he said. Jordan revealed the Suns’ first order of business when it comes to Devin. “He’s in his prime, ready to rock. And, um, again, we need to help him. And that’s my job as the coach to help him in multiple areas, help him find solutions. So he knows that he has us behind him, make or miss, and the game on the line, make or miss, we’re behind him,” he said.

After breaking out in the 2020 NBA Bubble and carrying that momentum into the 2021 season—culminating in a Finals appearance under then head coach Monty Williams and with Chris Paul running the offense—Devin Booker looked poised to anchor a perennial contender in Phoenix. But since then, the Suns have largely fizzled out in the postseason. Their only real playoff “moment” was a crushing blowout loss at home to the Mavericks. In the years that followed, blockbuster trades drastically reshaped the roster, but with little to show for it. Now, as Booker enters the heart of his prime, both he and the Suns are under pressure to make it count—to finally translate promise into rings.

With over 26,000 points scored for the Suns and no signs of slowing down, Devin is definitely in his prime. But so far, Devin Booker hasn’t been able to break out to the next level. All-Star snubs and failed Playoff runs despite his elite scoring have been his story in the league so far. But Jordan wants to help with that.

And, it’s not just Devin. Jordan Ott wants to help every player on the Phoenix Suns roster break through the glass ceiling and fulfill their potential. But before he does, he needs his players to do something for him as well.’

Jordan Ott reveals the key to helping his players

Player-coach relationships are at the heart of any team. Not only are they critical to the team’s morale. But in the Suns’ case, they really need someone to keep things on an even keel. Those reports of locker room toxicity following the trade deadline didn’t sound good. And it reflected in their play on the court. After all, they failed to make the Playoffs despite their immensely talented big 3 of Booker, Bradley Beal, and Kevin Durant.

And what Jordan Ott believes is the secret to a good dynamic between a coach and his players – helping them grow. “So initially, everyone will be respectful of the position. But it quickly turns to, “Can I help them?” And once they know you can help them, that helps the relationship. That helps you coach them once that relationship is formed. So when I prove and when our staff proves that we can help them, that’s when you got a good thing going. And that’s where we’re going to be building to,” said the Cavs’ former assistant coach.

With many Cavs players wishing him well after landing the Phoenix job, it’s clear Ott knows what he’s talking about. But his help doesn’t come without strings. You see, he has one demand. “We’re going to demand that you work. Um, that’s where it’s going to start…We’re going to help develop them, get to a new level that they didn’t think they could get to. And it’s going to take all of us,” said Ott.

And that sounds like it’s a relatively straightforward deal. As long as the players keep their head down and keep working, Ott will help them develop. And if both sides are on the same page about it, well. Those “toxic locker room” reports will seem like a distant memory for the Suns in the Jordan Ott era!