Suns coach Jordan Ott says rookie Koa Peat is “next” in line for minutes
The Valley-raised first-round pick has barely played so far, but Phoenix’s need for size could open a door soon.
Suns rookie Koa Peat hasn’t cracked Jordan Ott’s rotation yet. The No. 30 overall pick has played in four games, averaging 3.5 minutes per contest. Most of those minutes came at the end of games that were already decided. That could change soon. Ott said Thursday that Peat is close to getting real playing time: “Koa is next and he’s right there on the tip.” Yahoo Sports Sports Illustrated
The timing makes sense. Ott noted how the lack of size compared to Portland has him thinking even more about Peat, who has size and is a physical player. Phoenix is still working through early-season struggles, especially on defense. Two other young players are also day-to-day: guard Jordan Goodwin (right calf soreness) and forward Rasheer Fleming (left ankle sprain). Peat starred at Gilbert’s Perry High School before one season at Arizona, where he averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.7 blocks and 0.6 steals, earning an All-Big 12 selection.
Key points
- Peat has played four games, averaging about 3.5 minutes per game.
- Ott says Peat is “on the cusp” of joining the rotation.
- The Suns need more size and physical play after their loss to Portland.
- Peat played one season at Arizona and starred at Gilbert’s Perry High School.
- Phoenix traded up to take him 30th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.
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Summarized with AI from the sources above and reviewed before publishing.
