The Phoenix Suns continue their six-game road trip on Monday, Jan. 19, against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center.

This will be Phoenix’s first matchup against the Nets this regular season. The teams met twice during the preseason in China, splitting the matchups.

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Suns first-year head coach Jordan Ott spent four seasons (2018-22) in Brooklyn as an assistant. He now finds himself in the Coach of the Year conversation as Phoenix is playing above expectations after a 36-win season under Mike Budenholzer.

“He’s a guru,” Suns star guard Devin Booker said last week about Ott. “He studies the game at a high level. I’ve spoken on it before. He’s not just watching our games. He’s watching everybody across the league and what’s working and what’s not. The evolution of it. He doesn’t feel like he has all the right answers. He understands that the game is changing and evolving at the same time and you have to keep up.”

Detroit Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff, San Antonio Spurs coach Mitch Johnson, Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault and Toronto Raptors coach Darko Rajaković should also be in the mix for the award.

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“He has a way of connecting with the players,” Suns forward Royce O’Neale said last week about Ott. Putting us in position to succeed offensively and defensively. Connecting us. He’s also willing to listen. See what we see out there while he’s coaching us and him listening and adapting during the games.”

The Suns finish the road trip with games Jan. 20 against the Philadelphia 76ers and Jan. 23 versus the Atlanta Hawks.

This will be their first matchup against the Sixers this season.

Phoenix lost to Atlanta, 124-122, at home on Nov. 16 after blowing a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter.

The Suns will then return home to face the Miami Heat on Jan. 25.

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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: Phoenix Suns continue marathon road trip against Brooklyn Nets