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(Photo courtesy of Tom O’Grady)
By Crawford McKinstry
As the NBA Summer League begins in Las Vegas, rookie head coach Jordan Ott looks to build a culture that’s centered around defense and physicality. New acquisitions through trade, free agency and the draft have given Phoenix promising tools to work with heading into a new era of Suns basketball.
“We all like to talk about offense. … In reality when you’re a young guy in this league, it’s really the defensive piece that gets you on the floor and keeps you on the floor,” Ott said.
Last year, Phoenix gave up the ninth-most points per game on the league’s 10th-highest opponent field goal percentage. Additionally, the Suns had trouble pressuring ball-handlers and playing passing lanes, as they forced the second-fewest turnovers in the NBA in 2024-25.
“We kind of want to change the identity around here,” Suns assistant coach DeMarre Carroll said . “We want to compete at a high level.”
With all the issues that plagued the Suns last season, the organization has made their goals clear. Defense, length and athleticism have been the main gaps the Suns’ front office has looked to fill this offseason.
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The first step in Phoenix establishing that new culture has been maintaining and developing two promising second-year pieces in Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro. Despite the Suns’ lack of defensive personnel last season, Dunn and Ighodaro often had to take the assignment of guarding opposing teams’ best offensive weapons.
As Summer League is fully underway, Dunn and Ighodaro have taken on leadership roles with the young pieces and recent draft picks on the roster.
“Oso and Ryan, they’re true professionals,” Carroll said. “This summer’s super valuable for them. I think they’re going to grow.”
With high-upside defenders in Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Flemming taken in the draft, Dunn and Ighodaro look to lead by example and mentor the younger players on the Suns’ Summer League roster.
“Me and Ryan get to take a little bit more of a leadership role, be loud, vocal and really try to build this new culture,” Ighodaro said. “I think that starts here. Start the groundwork in the Summer League and try to carry it over.”
Phoenix has been in dire need of rim protection, as last season saw the Suns give up the NBA’s fourth-highest field goal percentage within 5 feet of the basket. To patch that wound, Maluach was drafted 10th overall and acquired by Phoenix through the Kevin Durant trade.
The 7-foot-2 center from South Sudan looks to be the exact archetype of big man the Suns have been missing, as he anchored the Blue Devils’ defense with nearly a block and a half per game during his lone season at Duke.
“Khaman, he’s special at 18, super special,” Dunn said. “Him flying around, talking, being the loudest one on the floor, being able to guard and switch and being so active is great on the defensive end.”
Not only has Maluach contributed to a new culture with his intensity and skill on the court, but coaches also rave about his character.
“His spirit, his upbeat personality, he communicates on the basketball floor,” Ott said. “The family piece, he really has a sense of pride about where he’s from.”
On top of Maluach, the Suns also drafted another tenacious defender in 6-9 Rasheer Fleming out of Saint Joseph’s. During his junior season in 2024-25, the versatile wing averaged 8.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.5 blocks to go along with efficient scoring.
In college, Fleming showcased his ability to switch on to smaller guards and contend with bigs down low. With a near 7-6 wingspan, Fleming’s length causes turnovers and missed shots constantly. Now in Phoenix, Fleming has other young defenders to learn from and a new NBA veteran assistant coach who had a somewhat similar playstyle.
“Me just trying to help him along the path right, helping him with his shooting, helping him understand the game, helping him on the defensive side of the ball,” Carroll said. “The sky’s the limit for that kid, I think he has a great upside.”
Fleming and the Suns’ other young defenders will also be paired with another in Mark Williams, who was acquired in a trade for Vasilije Micić, the 29th pick in this year’s draft and a future first round pick.
Although the 23-year-old big has had trouble with injuries, Williams when healthy has been a very solid contributor. In 44 games last season, the former Charlotte Hornet averaged career highs in points, rebounds, blocks and assists with efficient shooting.
As young pieces come together and develop, a new culture of youth, grit and toughness is forming in Phoenix. With many new faces joining already promising young talent, the Suns are building toward the future, and Summer League will be the first test.
“Excited to see all the new pieces in the gym right now, especially this draft class,” Ott said. “The building definitely has a great energy right now.”