The Phoenix Suns have started the NBA season 1-4 - but if not for some questionable decisions late in a couple of games - they could be 3-2. That's the cruel nature of being a rebuilding team, so often the bounces of the ball don't go your way. To try and combat this fact head coach Jordan Ott has been leaning more heavily than expected on his veterans to start the season.
This despite having three rookies on their roster, yet it is familiar names like Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale who have been called upon each night. Even with Jalen Green yet to feature and Dillon Brooks having missed the last two games, coach Ott would prefer to go down swinging with a shorter and more experienced rotation.
Coach Ott says Suns rookies aren't up to standard yet.
Ott spoke to the media in the aftermath of a tough home loss to the Memphis Grizzlies to drop their fourth straight game, and his assessment of the three rookies on the roster was as honest as it was surprising. When delving into why they haven't received a lot of run so far - with DNPs also featuring for the trio at various points - coach Ott was blunt in saying they're not up to standard yet.
Suns coach Jordan Ott on double bigs and utilization of rookies Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming:
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 30, 2025
Double bigs as Ott played Nick Richards and Oso Ighodaro in Suns OT loss to Jazz: "We've got to be adaptable to whatever it takes to win tonight and if that's part of the lineup… pic.twitter.com/VLpbzdTS91
To come out and say how the three look in practice versus the guys who can play 45 minutes a night is refreshing, although it could have a negative impact on the youngsters. That is not what coach Ott is trying to do however, if anything he wants to motivate all three to take their chance. Center Khaman Maluach looks tailor-made for a bigger role in The Valley, but we've yet to see it.
He's also only 19-years-old - or the same age as first overall pick Cooper Flaag - who himself has looked shaky at times to begin life with the Dallas Mavericks. This is to be expected, and coach Ott is doing Maluach, Koby Brea and Rasheer Fleming a solid by not throwing them in the deep end while this team is losing games.
This could also be an unforeseen impact of having Steve Clifford as a senior advisor for the Suns as well. He famously was not a fan of playing rookies, and never was this more evident than when he was head coach of an Orlando Magic outfit that was going nowhere and had a ton of young players they had to figure out. Even then he preferred to rely on veterans to try and win games.
It will also not be a surprise if all three spend time in the G League at some stage this season, Brea is already down there at the moment. This is a necessary step, but it is also a concern that coach Ott isn't even willing to give them small chances each night despite having some injuries in his rotation.