Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea make their introductions
Phoenix Suns general manager Brian Gregory introduces the team’s 2025 draft picks: Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea.
Phoenix Suns rookie Rasheer Fleming was put on the spot during last week’s fan fest when asked what veteran player he was looking forward to guarding.
He didn’t flinch with his answer, though.
“LeBron James,” Fleming said, much to the delight of the crowd at PHX Arena.
Fleming didn’t switch up when asked about how much he’s looking forward to that opportunity after Tuesday, Sept. 30’s training camp practice at the team’s practice facility.
“For sure, for sure,” he said.
Fleming and James are both represented by Klutch Sports, but the two have never faced each other in any basketball setting.
“We play them first game preseason. That’s going to be dope.”
The Suns open their preseason with a game on Friday, Oct. 3, against James and the Los Angeles Lakers in Palm Desert, California, with Fleming in camp with the ability to impact the game in many ways.
“For sure, for sure.”
Rasheer Fleming on looking forward to playing against LeBron James as the Suns and Lakers meet Friday in Palm Desert in 1st preseason game.
On confidence: “The main thing for me is I know I belong here. I think the main thing for me is just proving to… https://t.co/mahyKMvqdo pic.twitter.com/4ZNPashuNt
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) September 30, 2025
“I love Rasheer, I just love his mentality,” Suns big Oso Ighodaro said. “He does all the little things on the court. Elite defensively. I think he’ll be a really great defender in this league and he’s coming into his own offensively, too. He’s going to be a special player.”
Still, the Suns have felt a need during camp to reassure the talented Fleming that he’s ready for this level.
“He’s in a good place,” Suns first-year coach Jordan Ott said. “We have to give him confidence, knowing, ‘Hey Rasheer, you’re really good and we’re really excited about you’ because he still has that mentality of ‘Where am I at, am I really in the NBA?’ Some of that stuff. We have to give him confidence to know, hey, you’re a good player and we’re thankful that you’re here.”
During a recent pickup game involving rookies, players on training camp deals and team staff members, Fleming was in transition with a defender waiting in the lane.
The bigger and taller Fleming raced right past him for a layup.
Unranked by 24/7Sports coming out of high school in Camden, N.J., in 2022, Fleming has earned this opportunity, but he’s in full show-and-prove mode during camp.
“I think the main thing for me is just proving to myself and to the coaches that I belong,” Fleming said. “I don’t think it’s a bad thing. Just making sure I belong.”
The Suns maneuvered in the draft to land Fleming, the first player chosen in the second round. The 6-8, 232-pound forward averaged 14.7 points on 53.1% shooting (39% from 3), 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.4 steals and 1.3 assists in his third and final year at Saint Joseph’s.
He’s now looking to become a rotational player for the new-look Suns.
“From Day 1, you can see when he walks in the building, his length is there,” said Ott after Tuesday’s practice. “Has a 7-5 wing span, moves very well. What I saw a lot on film with him in college, he played on the perimeter, which is not always the case for a guy that size. He’s going to be challenged to guard some of the best players in the world when he’s out there on the court.”
Suns forward Ryan Dunn took on that same defensive role as a rookie last season. Ott sees Dunn as an example for Fleming to follow for his first NBA season.
“There will be a learning to that, but he can get through some of that with his day-to-day approach, which is high level,” Ott continued. “Very professional habits. Just overall energy and enthusiasm to attack. Doesn’t matter what the assignment is.”
Fleming has been turning heads in camp with his athleticism and defensive ability to the point Ott admitted he had a very good day Monday, Sept. 29, in camp.
“I think I’ve been guarding at a super high level,” Fleming said. “If I continue to do that in the games, I think that’s going to take me far.”
Fleming is also working on his offense in terms of adjusting to the NBA’s 3-point line.
“My shot has improved a lot since I’ve been here,” Fleming said. “So just keep on those things.”
One might just assume Fleming shouldn’t have doubts about how he’ll perform in the NBA, but Ott said there is still a part of him questioning where he’s at as a player.
“You can tell without knowing his career path from high school to college to how he popped late in his career, you can feel it,” Ott said. “He is a really good basketball player. He’s an NBA player. It’s just come along for him. It wasn’t like at a younger age he was that. He has worked to get to this spot and now we have to reinforce he is a really good player and he has a long career ahead of him because of his habits and who he is; the skills will follow.”
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.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.