Make no mistake about it, of the countless storylines entering the 2026–27 Phoenix Suns season, one I’m particularly interested in is seeing what second-year prospect Rasheer Fleming looks like on the court, how he’s integrated into the rotation, and what his role ultimately becomes.
He didn’t make my top five storylines of the season, which speaks more to the number of intriguing topics surrounding this team than to the importance of Fleming’s development and what it could mean for the organization
long term. Because if Fleming hits as a prospect, it’s a sign that the Suns’ developmental structure and ability to evaluate talent are in a healthy place.
But what does “hitting as a prospect” actually mean? As a second-round draft pick, much like Oso Ighodaro, it means becoming somebody who can provide productive minutes in a rotational role. How that production manifests itself can vary, although ideally you’d like Fleming to develop into the quintessential three-and-D player, considering he possesses the physical tools to fit that archetype.
What he ultimately becomes is highly intriguing, and it’s something head coach Jordan Ott commented on during Suns Media Day on Monday.
“What excites me is we don’t know where that ceiling is,” Ott stated to the Media. “I think he continues to raise the floor by his work, his care, his understanding of who he is as a player. He has no idea where his ceiling is, nor do we. He has physical gifts that you cannot teach. He has tremendous instincts that at times you just shake your head…how did he get to that? And now he’s starting to feel it, and that feeling of ‘I belong, I can do this.’”
“His high school, college career is different. He wasn’t on every list, and now he understands he has the talent and the ability, and it’s our job as a staff to help him realize he can do it,” Ott continued. “And he showed late in the season when there’s opportunity that he can do it, and we have to continue to push the limits because he didn’t have all the notoriety or recognition most of these guys have had. He’s different. His path is different. That’s what’s exciting.”
That’s right, the kid from Camden, New Jersey, wasn’t highly recruited coming out of Camden High School. He received a total of five offers and wasn’t rated as a prospect coming out of high school. That’s a far cry from some of the players he now shares the court with, including those who were ranked among ESPN’s top 100 prospects.
Part of Fleming’s journey has been learning that his hard work and physical attributes can take him further than perhaps he ever imagined. Multiple players stated that Rasheer’s ceiling is extremely high, and he doesn’t even realize it yet. There’s a quiet confidence about him that sets him apart, and when you combine that with his height, wingspan, and potential, there’s plenty of reason to be excited about what he could become.
“Rasheer just really growing and building in his work and his game and the size that he has and the athleticism he’s gifted with,” said teammate Ryan Dunn. “You can just see it every time.”
As for what Rasheer thinks? “Just seeing that I can battle with these guys…I can run out there with my teammates and do the right things.”
The physical tools are obvious, but the next step is believing he can consistently use them at this level. The Suns don’t need him to become a star overnight. They need him to recognize that he belongs, trust his instincts, and turn those flashes into dependable production. If that happens, Phoenix may have found something far more valuable than a second-round pick who can fill minutes.
You can watch Fleming’s Media Day interview below.
