The Phoenix Suns just wrapped up a revealing Summer League for their young core.
Like it always does, Summer League passed in a flash. Just a week and a half of hoops, five games in the desert heat. But after three long months without Phoenix Suns basketball, it felt like a breath of fresh air. There’s something inherently thrilling about watching the future of the franchise take the floor for the first time. After the anticipation of the NBA Draft, this is where excitement meets reality. It’s our first glimpse at potential.
Still, expectations must be kept in check. These games don’t count, even though they matter. They’re not a destination, but a mile marker on a long and winding road of development. As I watch, I remind myself: this is a proving ground filled with hopefuls, playing in systems that aren’t built to elevate them, just to test them. Guards dominate touches, trying to impress scouts and front offices, often at the expense of team rhythm. That imbalance can mask the value of bigs or disrupt chemistry entirely.
Even with those caveats, the tape doesn’t lie. So let’s dive in. Here’s how five Phoenix Suns prospects fared in Las Vegas, and the notes I took while watching them carve their first impressions into the hardwood.
Khaman Maluach
3 GP, 23.3 MP, 10.0 PPG (35.7 FG%, 23.1 3PT%), 5.7 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 2.3 TO
What intrigued me most heading into Summer League was seeing the 10th overall pick in action. When you draft a 7’2” prospect, curiosity naturally follows. How does he move? Can he absorb contact? What’s his shot look like? How does he defend in space or hold his ground inside? These were the questions I brought into Vegas, and Khaman Maluach gave us some early answers.
True to form, Maluach looked like what he is: a raw 18-year-old. And that’s not a knock. It’s expected. Development is a process, not a verdict.
There were areas where his youth showed, particularly with his rebounding and physical awareness, but the foundation is there. He plays into contact, which I like. The challenge now is learning how to pair that willingness with better positioning and technique. He wasn’t a standout rebounder at Duke, and the same held true in Vegas. But that can be coached. What can’t be coached is size. And Khaman’s got it.
Size comes in all shapes in today’s NBA. Take Bol Bol. 7’3” with a feather-light frame at 220 pounds. A well-placed hip check sends him drifting like a balloon. Maluach, though? He’s a sturdy 250 pounds, and you can see it in the way he absorbs contact. He doesn’t just get moved around. And considering he’s only 18, you know he’s going to keep adding muscle and strength as he matures into his body.
What really stood out was his willingness to shoot the three. The numbers weren’t pretty, but the form? It’s there. It’s clean, repeatable, and that alone is worth noting. If he can stretch the floor even modestly, that changes the geometry of the Suns’ offense. A five who can hit from distance forces defenses to make tough choices, and that kind of spacing is gold in today’s NBA.
The best part? You could literally see his growth from half to half. Every game, every quarter, there was a visible adjustment. He’d come out wide-eyed, feel the game, get into the locker room, listen to his coaches, and return looking more composed, more aware. That’s what you want. That’s teachability. That’s coachability. That’s progress.
Some are already drawing comparisons to Joel Embiid when he first arrived from Kansas. And honestly, I get it. Maluach is further ahead offensively and already has a more confident outside shot. If that comparison holds any water, the Suns might’ve walked away with one of the biggest steals of the draft.
Sure, there’s work to be done. But the early signs — his mindset, his willingness to learn, his physical tools — they all point in the right direction. And if this is what he looks like in July? I can’t wait to see what he becomes by October, with three months of strength training, conditioning, and professional-level development under his belt.
Rasheer Fleming
3 GP, 16.8 MP, 7.3 PPG (50.0 FG%, 36.4 3PT%), 4.0 RPG, 0.7 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 0.3 TO
Taken 31st overall in the draft, Rasheer Fleming is going to be a project, and that’s perfectly fine. He has all the physical tools and intangibles you look for in a modern NBA wing: length, athleticism, shooting touch, and a fearless approach when attacking the rim. What he needs now is refinement. His growth will come from learning the rhythm of the pro game. How to space the floor, where to be, and how to become the best version of himself within a system.
In Summer League, he was a bit of a whirlwind. Think Animal from the Muppets: nonstop motion, all energy, pure chaos. That kind of motor is rare and valuable, but it has to be honed. With time and coaching, that intensity can be redirected into something productive. And once that happens, you’ll start to see the reason the Suns were so eager to snag him early in the second round.
Wings are tricky to evaluate because there’s a razor-thin line between being a true three-and-D player and just a guy who shoots threes. The hope with Fleming is that he lands in the former category. He has the defensive tools — those Condor-like arms and elite athleticism — but now he needs to play lower, widen his stance, and use that wingspan to discourage drives. It’s not just about staying in front of your man; it’s about controlling space, using your body wisely, and playing with discipline. That’s where growth needs to happen.
There’s no question that Summer League was a wake-up call. You could see the nerves in the way he played. Heart rate through the roof, decisions coming a step too fast, energy sometimes outpacing awareness. But as the games went on, he started to settle in. He found a bit more composure, a bit more control. And that’s the exact progression you want to see in a young player. That’s the foundation you build on.
The athleticism got him here. But what’s going to keep him here? What’s going to earn him minutes and trust? Basketball IQ. Understanding rotations. Playing with purpose. Knowing when to shoot and when to move.
These things take time, but the early signs are promising. If he keeps trending in the right direction, Fleming has the upside to become a real asset for the Suns. Keep your eye on him this preseason. His story is just beginning.
Koby Brea
3 GP, 24.0 MP, 12.0 PPG (42.4 FG%, 42.9 3PT%), 4.0 RPG, 0.7 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.0 BPG, 2.7 TO
Koby Brea might’ve been the biggest surprise of Summer League, and that’s saying something. We all knew the résumé: best three-point shooter in college basketball two seasons ago, SEC leader in percentage last year. But knowing it on paper is one thing. Seeing it translate against NBA-caliber athletes is another. And with Brea? It translated beautifully.
From the jump, he looked comfortable and confident. The shooting numbers aligned with his collegiate efficiency, but what impressed me most was how he got those looks. This wasn’t just a catch-and-shoot specialist standing in the corner. He was curling off dribble handoffs, pulling up in transition, navigating off-ball screens, and even creating space for mid-range turnarounds.
At times, the movement and shot selection were eerily reminiscent of a young Devin Booker. Not bad for a two-way contract player.
Sure, the defensive side still needs work, and that was expected. But he didn’t look lost or overwhelmed. He competed, which is exactly what you want to see from someone trying to earn their keep. Offensively, though? He showed a polish and maturity that screams “rotation-ready.”
What makes Brea even more intriguing is what his presence means for the long-term roster. With players like Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale available for trade, the Suns might find themselves in need of a replacement wing sooner rather than later. And tucked away on a two-way deal, Brea might already be that guy, just waiting for his shot. And he’ll take it.
There’s a difference between hope and proof. In Vegas, Brea offered the first real proof that his game belongs at the next level.
Ryan Dunn
3 GP, 25.8 MP, 14.7 PPG (48.5 FG%, 37.5 3PT%), 5.3 RPG, 2.0 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 1.3 TO
Quite simply, Ryan Dunn looked great.
One of the key things you want to see from a player in Year 2 of Summer League is growth. They don’t need to dominate or look like the second coming of Michael Jordan, but you want to see polish, confidence, and progression. Dunn showed all of that. He looked like a guy who’s put in the work and taken meaningful steps forward.
His three-point shooting stood out. Last year, he shot 34.4% from deep in Summer League, a number we were already happy with, but this year he looked even more confident. He went 6-of-16 from beyond the arc and continued to shoot with no hesitation. That’s been the theme with Dunn: the form has always been there, but the consistency needed to catch up. In Vegas, the shots finally started to fall. That’s a promising sign.
What really excites me, though, is his aggression attacking the rim. That’s going to be a major point of emphasis for the Suns this upcoming season. With a roster that may lack elite outside shooting, getting downhill and putting pressure on the rim is going to be critical. Dunn gives you that. He’s got a quick first step, long strides, and a knack for slashing through tight lanes. We saw it repeatedly during the Summer League. He’s not just a catch-and-shoot guy, he’s a threat with the ball in his hands.
This was a solid leap forward for him. I’ve previously said I see his ceiling as a rotational wing — and I still believe that — but if he keeps trending this way, I might have to eat my words. And I’d love to. Because if Dunn can become a 6’8” wing who defends his ass off, hits threes, and puts pressure on the basket? That’s exactly the kind of player every good team needs.
He’s a disruptor in every sense: offensively, defensively, in transition, in the half-court. And in Summer League, we saw that disruption translate into real impact.
Oso Ighodaro
4 GP, 29.3 MP, 12.3 PPG (57.1 FG%, 0.0 3PT%), 8.5 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 3.5 TO
Yeah, he still can’t shoot. And that, unfortunately, will always put a ceiling on what Oso Ighodaro can ultimately become as a player. But even with that limitation, there’s a lot to like about his game. His basketball IQ is off the charts, and we saw that clearly in Summer League. He processes the game quickly, and in the NBA, that’s everything.
What separates NBA contributors from G League hopefuls is the ability to read, react, and execute under pressure. Oso can catch a pass, scan the defense, and make the right decision in real time. That kind of processing speed isn’t teachable. It’s instinctual. And it’s what makes him such an intriguing prospect for the Suns moving forward.
Given Phoenix’s current lack of depth at power forward, and their glaring hole at point guard, Oso may end up being a key piece off the bench next season. He’s shown he can be a post facilitator, which will be essential for a team that might need its bigs to initiate offense from time to time. And once again, he demonstrated that skill in Vegas.
His rebounding was also noticeably improved. The positioning was smarter, the physicality was stronger, and he led the team in rebounds during Summer League without much effort. That alone is a testament to his growth year-over-year.
But the shooting? It’s the lingering concern. Without a reliable jumper or any range beyond a floater, defenses will always have an easier time containing him. That limits his ability to stretch defenses and thrive in modern offensive systems. Until he can at least threaten from the midrange or out of short-roll scenarios, he’ll remain more of a role player than a true starter.
That said, we did see how the right system can unlock him. When Maluach was on the floor alongside him, stretching the defense, Oso had the space he needed to operate in the post and showcase his unique skill set. If the Suns can replicate that spacing in the regular season, Ighodaro can carve out a meaningful role, one built around intelligence, toughness, and team-first play.
He’s not flashy, and he’s not a shooter. But he’s a guy you trust to make the right play. And that still matters. A lot.
Summer League was fun, as it always is. I genuinely enjoy it. But by the end, you start to feel the weight of what it isn’t. The games don’t count, the sample sizes are small, and people tend to overanalyze everything like it’s a playoff series in June. I felt that again this year. And heaven forbid I offer an opinion, because someone will always remind me, “It’s just Summer League.” Yeah, I know. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter.
These games exist for a reason. They’re opportunities. Critical reps for rookies, second-year players, and fringe prospects trying to prove they belong. That’s why the games are played. That’s why we watch. We’re looking for growth, for flashes, for glimpses of potential that could one day translate on the NBA stage.
But now? We put the notebooks down. We pack away our Summer League takes, knowing we won’t dust them off again until next July, when this year’s rookies become next year’s sophomores, and we see what the grind of an NBA year has done for their game.
Until then, the countdown begins. October 3rd, if you’re circling dates, is when the Suns are back on the floor. That’s about two and a half months of development time. Two and a half months to hit the weight room, get in the gym, and make the most of the quiet grind before the lights come back on.
So who impressed you the most this summer? What stood out? Let us know in the comments below.
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