{"id":719978,"date":"2026-04-28T04:09:37","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T04:09:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/719978\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T04:09:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T04:09:37","slug":"phoenix-suns-fans-ask-why-rasheer-fleming-isnt-playing-much-in-series-vs-okc-thunder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/719978\/","title":{"rendered":"Phoenix Suns fans ask why Rasheer Fleming isn\u2019t playing much in series vs. OKC Thunder"},"content":{"rendered":"

PHOENIX \u2014 Throughout the Phoenix Suns\u2019 playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a>, one question grew among their fans: Where is Rasheer Fleming?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Apr 12, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Rasheer Fleming (20) runs down the court during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

When asked by Arizona Central\u2019s Duane Rankin why the rookie hasn\u2019t gotten those minutes, head coach Jordan Ott said \u201cevery option is in there\u201d each game.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll things are on the table. Game 1, we liked what we saw,\u201d he said. \u201cGame 2, he got free a little bit, and last game, we tried to put our center (Oso Ighodaro<\/a>) on him. That\u2019s as much size as we have\u2026 Kind of gone through it all in our heads, and then when it unfolds, we try the best we can.\u201d<\/p>\n

That hasn\u2019t been enough for Suns fans, who think there may be something more behind the scenes.<\/p>\n

The rookie forward has seen limited minutes throughout the series. As Phoenix has looked for more consistency off the bench, some believe Fleming could provide a different look against a dominant Thunder roster.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

Fleming\u2019s appeal is his versatility, with his length and defensive instincts. Those tools disrupt passing lanes and contest shots that could have proven valuable against an OKC team that thrives on pace and ball movement. Offensively, he brings energy and a willingness to attack the glass, where the Suns have struggled to generate second-chance opportunities.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Apr 2, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Rasheer Fleming (20) on defense against Charlotte Hornets<\/a> guard Coby White<\/a> (3) during the second quarter at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Throughout the series, Phoenix has faced issues with defensive consistency and bench production, two areas where Fleming\u2019s skill set could have been helpful. Even short bursts of energy can shift momentum in a playoff game.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

Fans voicing curiosity aren\u2019t calling for a rotation overhaul, but rather an opportunity to see if Fleming could provide a boost. In a series where OKC has taken control, fans just want their team to be successful.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Mar 31, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Rasheer Fleming (20) goes to the basket against Orlando Magic<\/a> guard Jett Howard<\/a> (13) during the second quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Why Fleming hasn\u2019t seen much time on the floor is between the player and coaching staff, but the conversation around his usage \u2014 or lack thereof \u2014 this postseason will likely continue long after the series is over.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

*Get the BEST Phoenix sports insider information, and exclusive content. SIGN UP HERE to unlock our premium content!*Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"PHOENIX \u2014 Throughout the Phoenix Suns\u2019 playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, one question grew among their…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":719979,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3791],"tags":[382,7,247,473,963,460,4164,56639,6,179,76,11328,2065,472,4045,2028,604,3209],"class_list":["post-719978","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-phoenix-suns","tag-arizona","tag-basketball","tag-brooklyn-nets","tag-charlotte-hornets","tag-coby-white","tag-jett-howard","tag-mandatory-credit","tag-mortgage-matchup-center","tag-nba","tag-oklahoma-city-thunder","tag-orlando-magic","tag-oso-ighodaro","tag-phoenix","tag-phoenix-suns","tag-phoenixsuns","tag-rasheer-fleming","tag-suns","tag-usa"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/116480375750112397","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/719978","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=719978"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/719978\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/719979"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=719978"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=719978"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=719978"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}