Phoenix Suns center Khaman Maluach is entering his second year with the team, looking to take a major leap forward as a player. The 7-footer had an impressive four-game run in July's Las Vegas Summer League, but still needs to translate this growth into regular-season NBA action.
What happened?
Khaman Maluach joined teammate Dillon Brooks for a promotion on the yearly NBA 2k game, where he described his welcome to the league moment. This moment came when Denver Nuggets wing Peyton Watson dunked on Maluach at roughly the 11-minute mark of the second quarter in a game between the two on October 25 of last season. Maluach held the assumption that he would body Watson directly before the opposite took place. This was the perfect moment to teach Maluach that things transpire much quicker at the NBA level compared to the collegiate game.
Why it matters for Phoenix Suns
The talented big man went on to acknowledge that this moment taught him how to take low-points in stride, which is also crucial to his ultimate development. The hope is that Maluach will develop a competent offensive game alongside superstar guard Devin Booker - particularly as a screen-setter, stationary shooter, and play finisher. However, his defensive prowess continuing to progress is what's most important in what is hoping to be a star-level leap in the coming years.
What comes next?
Going back to the welcome to the league moment - one of Maluach's obvious weaknesses as a rookie rested in his relative lack of awareness and falling behind in the minutia of the game. This isn't uncommon for rookies, but it unfortunately proved to be more glaring in comparison to peers. As aforementioned, Maluach is displaying marked growth in awareness and fully embracing the minutia of the game that most young players let slip them by. While Maluach is unlikely to start to begin the season, it wouldn't be a shock to see him installed at some point over the course of 82 games. The Phoenix Suns' last result was a 122-131 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on 2026-04-28, and they have lost their last 5 games, with a recent form of 0W-0D-5L. Maluach will have two chances to exact revenge on Peyton Watson this season on February 3 and 14, 2027.
