LeBron James’ assignment gives rookie Phoenix a full-circle moment during win against Lakers

PHOENIX – Before Rasheer Fleming’s NBA campaign began, he wanted to guard one player.

“LeBron James,” Fleming said pointedly during a Phoenix Suns pre-season fan event.

Although the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix have fought three times, Fleming never had a chance to routinely guard James or Doncic. He spent those games either with the Valley Suns (Phoenix’s G-League affiliate) or playing trash.

With the influx of injuries, he saw his workload increase. From being mostly a defender, his offensive game has grown exponentially.

It may not impress anyone right now, but confidence is building. Fleming’s athleticism, wingspan and defense alone make him someone to play in the rotation.

The new offensive game – and especially the 3-point shot – intrigued the fan base as well as the Suns’ coaching staff.

Coach Jordan Ott paired Fleming with Boston Celtics guard Peyton Pritchard on Tuesday, where the latter shot 1 for 11 from the field.

Two days later, the coach spoke about beginner’s responsibility to guard “some of the best players in the world”, in relation to James and Luka Doncic. Stellar nature it didn’t seem to faze him one bit.

“I think after,” Fleming said when asked about getting along with James and Doncic. “Like, I’m going home and I’ll probably think about it more. But during the game, I’m too competitive to be that focused on it.”

I asked Rasheer Fleming if he was going to get hit in the middle of the game or if it was going to happen after.

He routinely guarded Luka Doncic, and tonight he was on LeBron James.

“I think about it afterwards. Like, I go home and I probably think about it more. But during the game I’m also… pic.twitter.com/KVcKFD89Vk

— Hayden Cilley (@HaidenCilley) February 27, 2026

Suns teammates see Rusher Fleming’s potential

Fleming has all the tools to be an elite NBA defender. But an elite offensive lineman? It didn’t occur to many except his teammates.

It’s a job for the Valley Suns, and it’s reaping the rewards of its labor. The difference between G-League and NBA games, sometimes on the same day, can be a little big.

But it’s all part of the process, and something Fleming was taking into account. His work ethic, commitment to staying fit has paid dividends since the start of the new year.

In the second half, Ott replaced the starters for the second unit, which included Fleming. He hit two 3-point shots and injected life into the Phoenix crowd.

The offensive game only increased his influence.

As he cheered on the bench, this was just another game for Fleming through the eyes of Colin Gillespie, who is raved for almost 30 seconds after the game about his rookie potential.

“We always tell him he has no idea how good he can be,” Gillespie told reporters.

“He could be so, so good. I don’t even think he’s close to (his ceiling). He probably doesn’t even know what a ceiling is. I don’t even know what his ceiling is. There’s so much to find offensively and beyond, but defensively, just the ball, the length, the turns. He does everything.”

With injuries still plaguing the team, this could be a legitimate shot for Fleming to fully make the Phoenix Suns roster.