Suns rookie Rasheer Fleming talks about guarding Devin Booker, expectations

Rasheer Fleming’s versatile offensive skill set is a product of being a point guard at an early age and then having to play power forward and center when he became taller than everyone else.

That all led to him developing handles and the ability to score on all three levels.

The now 6-foot-8-inch Fleming displayed those skills in averaging 14.7 points on 53.1% shooting (39% from 3) and 8.5 rebounds last season at Saint Joseph's, thus making him an intriguing NBA draft prospect, but he plans to earn his initial rookie minutes with the Phoenix Suns by defending at a high level.

“I feel like I can guard a lot of guys just with my abilities and things I have,” Fleming said. “My intangibles. I feel like I can do a really good job on the defensive end and then everything else on the offensive end is going to come.”

In a one-on-one interview last week with The Arizona Republic, Fleming talked about guarding Suns teammate Devin Booker in an open run, his summer league experience in Las Vegas, conversations with new head coach Jordan Ott, his favorite NBA player and more.

Summer League experience

Fleming played in Phoenix’s last three games in Las Vegas after missing the first two with right knee soreness. He averaged 7.3 points on 50% shooting (36.4% from 3), four rebounds and 1.7 steals

“It was a great experience overall," Fleming said. "I know it’s not technically an NBA floor, but just to be in the NBA-type of game. It was a fun and good experience for me. Just getting the feel and the pace of the NBA game and getting ready for the season. It was really cool.”

Fleming also met several of his new teammates in Las Vegas.

“D-Book is cool,” Fleming said. “They’re all good guys.”  

Approach to rookie season

“Honestly, my main goal is obviously be the best player I can be, but I think I can do that by starting off on the defensive end," Fleming said, emphasizing his offensive game eventually will develop from there.

Coach expectations

Just as Fleming is entering his rookie season, this is Ott’s first year as an NBA head coach. Ott has given Fleming a game-plan map for the season.

“It’s kind of similar to the goals that I have for myself," Fleming said. "He’s really high on me on the defensive end and getting me on the floor doing that. He sees the potential offensively, too, but his main focus for me is, he was telling me the other day, to focus on getting us more possessions. Whether that’s defensively, like getting steals, guarding people, defensive rebounds or on the offensive end with offensive boards. Just getting us more possessions.”

What Fleming is working on right now

“I’m trying to not slow down in the sense of running slow or anything like that, but just slowing my pace down a little bit," he said. "I feel like I’m rushing sometimes when I’m doing certain things like when I’m shooting sometimes or about to make a decision. Just slowing things down a little bit and I’ve been getting really good at that over time in practice. I’ve just been slowing my pace down a little bit.”

Guarding Devin Booker

Fleming feels as if he’s been playing well in open gym, such as one the Suns had Aug. 14, before he chatted with The Republic.

During an earlier open run “at a spot in Arizona,” Fleming got a chance to test his defensive skills guarding Booker “a couple of times” in a “5-on-5.”

“He’s tough,” Fleming said. “He’s a great shot maker, but I think, like I said, I’m a really good defender so I feel like I’m capable of guarding anybody.”

Fleming’s favorites: LeBron and KD

Fleming’s favorite players growing up are still going strong in the NBA – Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant.

“It’s always been Bron," he said. "It’s always been Bron. Bron and KD for the most part, but Bron has always been my favorite player. Bron and KD.”

James, a four-time NBA champion, four-time MVP and the league’s all-time leading scorer, is entering his 22^nd season while Durant, a two-time NBA champion who last played for the Suns, is venturing into his 19^th season.

“I always liked how explosive (James) was,” Fleming said. “How fast he was for his size and explosive. It was crazy to see that when I was younger. Still is.”

James, Maluach, Fleming Klutch teammates

Like James, Fleming is represented by Klutch Sports as is fellow Suns rookie teammate, Khaman Maluach.

“I feel like with Klutch, the main thing for me was I felt like they did a really good job of letting me know that they were going to fight for me," Fleming said. "Letting teams know who I am, and really fighting for me to be placed with a good team. They’re not just throwing me into any team and just let me be there and leave me to be. They want me to have a good opportunity to be on a team and they made sure I got the best out of my situation. I’m really appreciative of that.”

All 82

The Suns released their 2025-26 schedule last Thursday. Fleming said he hasn’t circled any specific matchup.

“I haven’t looked into many of the teams we’re going to be playing yet, but I’m just excited to be playing any team, honestly," he said.

Phoenix opens the regular season Oct. 22 against the Sacramento Kings at PHX Arena.

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns rookie Rasheer Fleming wants to emphasize defense