Devin Booker walked off the floor with a sweep on the scoreboard and a season's worth of context to unpack. The Phoenix Suns finished 45-27 and ran straight into the defending champions in Round 1, where Oklahoma City sent them home in four games. For Booker, the conversation kept circling back to two themes: a head coach he wants more of, and a rival he could not solve.
The head coach is Jordan Ott, hired last summer in another reset for a Phoenix franchise that has run through coaches at speed. Booker has been here before, and he made clear what Ott meant to him from day one.
"It's the foundation, from day one since the hire. He came in 100% locked in. We've been aligned, we've been on the same page," Booker said. "I think this is the first step forward. This is a building block to some stability and some chemistry. Something that's been much needed around here."
The stability piece kept resurfacing. Booker pointed out that the only continuous coaching relationship he has had in years was with Monty Williams, and the partnership with Ott has the same feel.
"I think the only time I've had a coach in two or three years was Monty, and we built the chemistry quick and ended up having some big success," he said. "So just roll with the punches, continue to be a leader, and still blessed to be in this position. I don't take it for granted. I approach every day with a new chance mindset."
Booker pushed back on the idea that 45 wins should feel like overachievement.
"People had us projected at 28, 29 wins on the season and ended with 45, and I still feel like we dropped five to 10," he said. He pointed out that Jalen Green missed 50 games, he himself missed 20 and Dillon Brooks missed another 20. "Going into next season with the same core, we have a better understanding that those games in October, November, December actually matter. They matter a lot going into seeding later in the season."
The Suns saw a lot of the kind of defence that Dallas and Minnesota also tried on Booker this year: deny him touches at every entry point. He thinks the answer is faster reads.
"Make them pay for it early in the game," Booker said. "If my man's hugged up on me in the corner and we get two lob dunks to the big right away, it'll loosen up some. If I'm up in the slot and they're denying me, we run a pick and roll, hit the big early in the pocket, have advantage basketball on the backside. It shouldn't take two or three possessions to kind of figure that out."
Asked what made the Thunder a championship team after watching them up close for four games, Booker did not bother with a long preamble.
"You can't say anything without bringing up Shai. He's MVP of the league and he's playing the best basketball in the league for the past two years," Booker said of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. "Mix with guys that know their roles, some seasoned vets that are relentless. With that chemistry, the communication, it's on 100% and when the bench comes in, they get better sometimes. It's like reinforcements, not subs. They have all the answers to the test. They've been tested together and they've been together for years. So that's an advantage."
Booker said the Suns will keep the core together and lean on the lessons. "This was a great test for us. I'm sure a lot of guys won't be out of market, and we'll all be together and continue to learn."
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*Originally published on [NBA News Global](https://nbanews.global/article/devin-booker-suns-thunder-elimination-jordan-ott-2026-postgame). Visit for full coverage.*
