Limited minutes but growing impact: Suns encouraged by Rasheer Fleming’s progress

Fleming is gaining traction as a developmental piece with clear long-term impact for Phoenix’s roster. Whether he’s in there for a few minutes or 15, he’s slowly carving out his role in the organization.

In 23 games with the Suns this season, he is averaging 2.7 points and 1.3 rebounds in roughly seven minutes per game. While the numbers may not show a dramatic jump on the stat sheet, it is his energy, physicality and presence that are drawing attention.

Head coach Jordan Ott has seen the progress of his young forward as he continues to work his way up, most notably logging 13 minutes against the Washington Wizards on Jan. 11 — the most since Dec. 27.

“Just his size, he got a couple deflections tonight,” Ott said post-game. “He’s just able to make up for what most rookies have… some mistakes out there, but his reaction time and his overall wingspan that allows him to make up for some plays.”

The blend of NBA exposure and G League play allows players to get consistent reps, who may not see extended time in NBA games but can still make an immediate impact in limited minutes.

With the Valley Suns this season, Fleming has flourished, averaging 17.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists.

The Suns’ faithful are also beginning to notice the forward’s progress, hopeful that more consistent playing time will eventually help him become an important piece of the rotation.

“He’s taking steps and he’s an extremely hard worker,” said Ott. “It’s not easy coming to the league, not really playing a ton of minutes. But we know every rep he gets on the practice court, in the game, he’s gonna go all out… He’s gonna continue to grow. Super excited to see where it goes.”

As the team continues to balance veterans with rising talent, Fleming’s progress showcases Phoenix’s long-term vision in developing players at both the NBA and G League levels.

The Suns now begin a six-game road trip starting against the Miami Heat on Tuesday, Jan. 13, at 5:30 p.m.