Phoenix Suns forward Nigel Hayes-Davis fully understands the power of words.
Anyone who spends five minutes having a conversation with him immediately notices his intelligence and ability to articulate and communicate.
So, when Suns coach Jordan Ott and his staff made a point to tell the team they prefer the word “support” over “help” when it comes to defending, Hayes-Davis got it.
“It’s huge for us to be as mobile as we are on defense that has similar, fit this body type, defensive-minded mentality and to be able to switch throughout,” Hayes said during training camp. “It doesn’t allow us to be ‘picked on,’ calling guys out. We’re able to with our athleticism, our IQ of playing, we’re able to help.”
Oops. Sorry. My bad.
“Coach doesn’t like to say ‘help,’” Hayes-Davis continued. “We want to support, as (Suns assistant Brian Randle) says. We want to support and make sure that everyone is flying around and helping.”
This may seem simple, perhaps small in the overall scheme of how Phoenix wants to defend, but it’s huge for the Suns in helping create a mindset of playing together and for each other.
“Words are important,” Hayes-Davis said. “Not to go too deep, but when you go deep is when you find important things, but the things you say are important in the world. The way you speak, the things you say. What you say is what you create. Saying the word ‘help’ indicates something is wrong. We don’t want someone to feel like something is wrong out there.”
Ott isn’t surprised Hayes-Davis took deep root in using “support” over “help.”
“Of all people to probably bring it up, I probably could’ve guessed that would stick with Nigel,” Ott said. “The way he thinks. Help is like throwing someone a life raft. When they’re out there, they’re in the middle of the ocean. Help. You need something. Here, we have your back. You don’t have to say anything. We have your back, no matter what, at all times on both ends. No matter what time of the game. Up 20, down 20.”
The Suns are looking to improve on being ranked 27th in defensive rating last season.
“Imperfect game,” Hayes-Davis said. “Beautiful, but imperfect game. There are going to be times when you get beat or you slip, you fall, make a bad read and you need to be supported for that. Using the verbiage of support is indicative that we’re all in this together and that we’re all a unit.”
Hayes-Davis said placing a high value on words goes beyond the court for the Suns.
“The coaching staff and organization have done a great job,” Hayes-Davis added. “It may seem corny or unimportant, but the things you say are extremely important.”
Phoenix opens the 2025-26 season Oct. 22 against the Sacramento Kings at Mortgage Matchup Center.
“We’re here to support you on the court and also here with our staff,” Ott said. “We’re around here to support August, September. Hopefully, they’ve been able to feel that. October. January. February. March. All the way through. We’re all here to support our guys.”
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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