The youth movement is underway, whether you like it or not.
Sophomores Oso Ighodaro and Ryan Dunn are now staples in the Phoenix rotation. Rasheer Fleming is carving out a useful role and building some intrigue around the league. Khaman Maluach is now inserted into a role that is more of a necessity than anything, with Mark Williams sidelined. But… he is making the most of it, and that’s what‘s important.
The bottom line is Phoenix now has a young nucleus of homegrown draft picks who are playing a significant
role down the stretch. It’s no longer just in garbage time. They’re counting on them when they need them most.
Leading the youth
Devin Booker is healthy, and the rookies need to get reps with him on the floor. It still feels wild to say that Book is now an 11-year veteran and has a lot to offer in terms of being a mentor.
Outside of that, Booker remains one of the most underrated playmakers and attention-drawers in the association. When he is on the floor, life is easier for everyone around him. That’s why this young group must share the floor with him as much as possible.
Booker had 10 assists in last night’s contest to just 2 turnovers. It was an environment that made it easy for others to thrive, as Jalen Green had one of his best offensive games as a Sun as well.
Rook Watch
Rasheer Fleming is drawing some lofty comparisons with his defensive prowess and ability to make freakish plays look routine. Young Kawhi is unfair to throw on any rookie, but man, oh man… he sure has looked the part. The wingspan, the long strides, the athleticism, the body control. It’s all there. Offensively, he has a long way to go, but he can still contribute on that end as his confidence grows.
Fleming finished with a career-high 16 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 threes in 20 minutes.
Rasheer hit a trio of corner threes (four total) and had several key defensive plays. He also had a key transition dunk that led to a Charlotte timeout midway through the 4th quarter with Phoenix leading 80-73.
“It’s just basketball,” said Fleming about his increased role. He is certainly making the most of Dillon Brooks’ absence. It will be a pleasure to watch those two share the floor defensively when Brooks returns.
Khaman, on the other hand, has less of an established role and has just been thrown into the rotation due to Mark Williams’ injury.
This was something they always planned for from the start, though. And that’s why it was important for him to get those G-League reps early on and grow into his body a bit more while adapting to the physicality of the NBA.
He had his best game yet against Charlotte last night. Forget the numbers for a second. Just from the eye test, this was BY FAR the most complete set of stints he’s had. He looked confident. He was vocal, barking commands to the defense, serving as the rim protector that they envisioned when they drafted him.
He also mixed it up a little bit down low one stretch with Moussa Diabate that Peacock’s stream picked up as they were pacing back down the floor late in the 3rd quarter. I loved every second of it. Oh, and this monster block earlier in the game wasn’t too shabby either.
Maluach finished with 4 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 19 minutes off the bench.
The best part about this group of young guys? They aren’t small! This is a long, athletic, disruptive group of players who fit seamlessly next to Devin Booker for the foreseeable future.
It’s still early in the grand scheme of things, but it’s looking like Brian Gregory and company crushed it in the 2025 NBA Draft.
