Phoenix Suns fans share their thoughts on new-look roster
The Phoenix Suns made many changes to their roster in the offseason. Here’s what fans had to say about the new-look team ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Phoenix Suns rookie Koby Brea is expected to make his preseason debut in upcoming games against the Brooklyn Nets.Brea, considered the best shooter in his draft class, is on a two-way contract with the Suns.Fellow rookies Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming played in the preseason opener against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Koby Brea will get his turn soon enough.
Fellow Phoenix Suns rookie draft picks Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming saw action in the team’s preseason opening win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 3 in Palm Desert, California.
Brea didn’t, but he’s expected to play as early as this weekend when the Suns face the Brooklyn Nets on Oct. 10 and Oct. 12 in Macao, China.
“Koby is one of those guys, he’s going to be ready when we need him,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said this week. “Again, we have a plan for everyone. Koby is part of that plan. He had a really good camp. He’ll get some minutes by the end of this and we know when his name is called, he’ll be ready to go. He shot it at a high level just like talked about earlier in camp.”
The Suns landed Maluach, the 10th overall pick in the 2025 draft out of Duke, as part of the Kevin Durant trade to Houston. Fleming and Brea were second-round selections.
Brea was considered the best shooter from deep entering the draft.
The 6-6 guard led the NCAA in 3-point shooting percentage at 49.8% in 2023-24 at Dayton and knocking down an SEC-best 43.5% of his 3s last season for Kentucky.
He’s carried that marksmanship into training camp. The Suns have him on a two-way deal.
“I’m somebody that I’m just going to come and I’m always going to be ready,” Brea said earlier in training camp. “Whenever people give me an opportunity to show what I do, I always pay it back to them. I just appreciate the trust in my teammates that anytime they see me open, they’re always kicking it to me. They want me to shoot the ball. It feels good.”
Asked Jordan Ott about Jalen Green (hamstring) and Mark Williams about availability heading into China trip for two games vs Nets and why Koby Brea didn’t play in Friday’s preseason opener vs. Lakers.
On Green: “It’s definitely progressing. It’s progressing in the right place.… pic.twitter.com/POD6qFzJPr
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 5, 2025
Brea may very well take his first preseason 3 in Macao after watching Fleming and Maluach play in the preseason opener from the sidelines.
Maluach posted four points and six rebounds in 10 minutes in the 103-81 win over the Lakers, while Fleming had two points and a blocked shot in 12 minutes.
“Got thrown in the fire a little bit, that was our plan to get those guys some minutes,” Ott said after last week’s game.
Beyond the numbers, Maluach and Fleming had their highs and lows.
“Initially, it’s different,” Ott continued. “We all know it’s different. The speed of the game is different. The physicality is different. Way more conceptual here in the NBA. So you are read and reacting. I thought both of those guys found their own way. We’ll be there to help. We know it’s not going to be a straight line up. We’ll be there to help on any dips, but I thought overall, you can see the physical size, both of those guys.”
Maluach was called for an offensive foul 10 seconds after checking into the game for the first time late in the third quarter.
The 7-foot-1 big got his shot blocked on a putback attempt, but he later dunked to put the Suns up, 98-77, with three minutes left in the game as the Lakers called timeout.
“I felt like I did what I was supposed to do,” Maluach said after the game. “It’s a lot to work on.”
Fleming entered the game to start the fourth quarter. He appeared late on a closeout in giving up a 3, misfired on both of his 3-point attempts, but looked to crash the boards and rejected Christian Koloko’s shot coming out of that timeout by the Lakers.
“I was happy for him, I was excited for him,” Maluach said. “We spent the whole pre-draft together. I know how much more he put in to be able to be in the spot he’s in right now.”
How to watch Suns-Nets preseason games
Here is how to watch the two Phoenix Suns’ preseason games against the Brooklyn Nets being played in Macao, China:
Friday, Oct. 10: 5 a.m. MST, Arizona’s Family (3TV in Phoenix) and NBA TV.
Sunday, Oct. 12: 4 a.m. MST, Arizona’s Family (3TV in Phoenix) and NBA TV.
The games will also be broadcast on the radio by Arizona Sports 98.7.
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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