Game Preview: Phoenix opens Summer League with a roster worth watching and something to prove

Basketball is back, baby!

Who: Summer Suns (0-0) vs. Summer Wizards (0-0)

When: 6:00pm Arizona Time

Where: Thomas & Mack Center — Las Vegas, Nevada

Watch: ESPN

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Basketball is back! Summer League style.

Something to give us desert dwellers a little relief from the heat, unless you plan to attend the games in Las Vegas. Is it quality over quantity or vice versa (neither in the Suns’ case)? It does not matter. It is basketball! And you will want to watch the game because the future of the Suns’ youth movement depends on it.

Phoenix Suns vs. Washington Wizards will air on ESPN and ESPN+ at 6:00 PM Arizona Time. There is also something called Monumental Sports Network that is set to air it. That is a new one for me. Already in Vegas? The NBA Experiences website has Michelob Ultra Light court-side packages for the low, low price of $599.00 for Friday the 11th games. General admission will cost you $229.00, and this is before processing fees on checkout. This is not a promotion, but it is probably better than betting at the sports books.

I am honored to be your host in my first-ever game coverage article. The reality is, some of the writers are in Vegas (poor guys — I know I would not be able to write by the fourth quarter), and I have no life on Friday nights. So, I drew the short straw, and as the “Rook”, I probably need to wash the writer’s jock straps after the game and buy them burritos. Feel free to help me out with your astute opinions on the live game chat.

Probable Starters

Sun’s roster will be composed by this handy-dandy link provided by John Voita:

Also, let’s give JV some respect as SI picked him up.

Conversely, you can also deep-dive the Washington Wizards Summer League roster.

What to Watch For

I went over to the Wizards board and asked them which match-ups they would like to see. To be honest, their fan base is large, and they were accommodating. Heck, they knew more about the Suns than we do! They love them some pick values. I am not sure I would have had the same response on the Lakers site.

These are your takeaways to watch the game:

Sarr vs. Maluach paint battle

This has to be a viewing experience between the #2 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Alex Sarr (let’s just say he represents France, it is complicated), vs. Phoenix’s #10 overall pick in 2025, Khaman Maluach out of Duke.

You are going to want to see the bigs battle it all out down-low, and all eyes should be on this match-up. Maluach will wear number 10 on his jersey in honor of being the 10th pick in the draft.

Fleming vs. George stretch showdown

Speaking of the bigs, anybody want to see another front-court battle between Rasheer Fleming vs Kyshawn George? Sure.

The Suns’ Fleming may have the advantage. He is a self-described “3-and-D guy”. Well, the Suns could use more of that. I am not even sure if the fans will even recognize it anymore.

Fleming will be wearing number 20, and you can’t make this stuff up, because “I think it looks good with my last name.”

Also, another fun fact, he played point guard before growing into his 6’9” frame. If he can pass out of the post and defend, this is a win.

Sophomore Oso

Let’s stay with the bigs. Osasere Benjamin, or Oso, will make his second return trip to the Summer League. Rumor has it he might have added a bit more to his frame. Is anyone getting the sense that I think this game may be a post-battle?

A rookie shootout

Is it all front-court? No! Keep an eye on the match-up between Washington’s rookie Tre Johnson (Richard Earl “Tre” Johnson III) and Koby Brea as they could be battling it out from beyond the arc.

Do not sleep on Tre. He broke Kevin Durant’s scoring record as a freshman single-game program record by scoring 39 points in a loss against Arkansas in college for the University of Texas. Tre’s freshman season averages from three? 39.7%. Koby averaged 43.5% for the Kentucky Wildcats (they are not the Cats).

We will need to see defense here, but I would say advantage Koby in the battle beyond the arc. But if Koby Brea shines, then the fans need to revisit the shooting guard roster situation. Koby will wear number 14 due to the inverse of being the 41’st pick in the draft and “I picked No. 14 because I used to wear No. 4,” Brea said. “My little brother’s birthday is Jan. 4, so now being No. 14 is the month and the day of his birthday.”

And the point guard is?

Who the heck is the Sun’s point guard in the Summer League? Hah. Respond to me in the comments. I have no idea. Maybe Khalif Battle out of Gonzaga? Mark Few runs a good program that emphasizes sharing the ball in an up-tempo system. Voita added Yuri Collins in the graphic because your guess is as good as his.

Big Ryan Dunn

Ryan Dunn, apparently also could have also put on a little more bit more bulk. But if he can shoot the three, ala Grayson Allen pre-bulk, then this is worth watching. However, I would say two “3-and-D” players are worth more than one that could can shoot threes.

The big league squad

Finally, do the veteran players show up to watch court-side for team support? Rumor may have it that Book, GA. Mark Williams and Royce O’Neale may be in attendance. I would think that if Bradley Beal showed up court-side, it would break the sports internet.

Prediction

So, prediction time. And I will be damned if I lose my first prediction! But, this is a Summer League where the Jazz are leading to win the whole sha-bang. I mean, really? I am going to assume the Suns are the Vegas dogs in this game, and there is great reason for the DC area not rolling out one or two, but three first-round picks.

No, they are rolling out 7 of them over the last two years. I can hear Oprah Winfrey…”You get a first pick, everyone gets the first pick!” In fact, everyone gets the valued first overall pick except the Suns. I am not even sure how the Wizards even play a rotation of 7 first-round picks.

It’ll be a close 108-106 game, based on a post-battle. Suns win. We need a little positivity on the board.

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