LAS VEGAS — The Phoenix Suns developmental program is running ahead of schedule, and Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming are the main reasons why. These two second-year players have turned heads in Vegas, and it’s not just because of their size.
Their physicality and NBA readiness are obvious. Fleming and Maluach shored up the Suns defense midway through last season. Rim protection, switching on the perimeter, being freaks of nature at their positions — that’s the baseline. What’s stood out here is their voices.
Maluach put up 19 points and 11 rebounds Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers. He also had seven turnovers and five fouls, stuff that’s fixable. The G League reps are paying off. Fleming was more of a defensive stopper that night: six points, 10 boards, two blocks, two steals. By Sunday’s game, the pattern held. You could hear them constantly talking on the court, especially Maluach.
“We enjoy it, and we embrace it at the same time,” Maluach said. “We just be out there, and try to help each other. Try to help everybody else around us and try to make everyone around us better.”
Fleming added: “Just trying to help them with the same stuff that we might have struggled with last year. Just making sure we’re on the same page with everything.”
They’re Not Just Big Bodies Anymore
The front office, head coach Jordan Ott, and Summer League coach Chassion Allen have given these two the green light to expand their games. Phoenix won’t just turn Maluach into a shot-blocking, rim-running big. He’s shown real touch on his 3-point shot and can play on the perimeter. Fleming was a quality shooter at Saint Joseph’s, but the Suns wanted more. In practice sessions open to the media last season, he worked the corner 3-ball constantly. Nearly half his deep shots came from there. Once that corner shot got consistent, his ball handling improved too.
Fleming came into the league at 190 pounds. His Summer League coach said he’s now around 250. The point was keeping functional weight without losing athleticism, and he’s pulled it off.
Summer League Coach Sees a Second Coach on the Floor
Chassion Allen, one of the Suns top assistants, has worked extensively with both players. He wanted Fleming to become a more confident 3-point shooter and handle the ball more. Before Vegas, Fleming was tasked with initiating offense at times, not just defending. That’s a lot for a second-year guy.
“They’re doing a great job,” Allen said. “Tremendous job getting everyone on board. We threw a lot at them here at camp, and camp is three days. They’ve been a great voice, almost a second coach on the court, and just helping all the guys with our principles, and they’re also thinking about themselves and where they need to be.”
The Suns are investing in a crop of rookies and second- and third-year players. Only one of them was a lottery pick. But that’s the point: take talent, develop it based on individual skill sets, don’t force them into boxes. Maluach and Fleming are embracing their strengths while building toward being complete players. The supposed leap people talk about might already be here. Now the task is maintaining that and lifting everyone else around them at the same time.
Leave a Comment