The Phoenix Suns pulled out their first preseason win on Saturday over the San Antonio Spurs, with sophomore center Khaman Maluach getting a first start and doing his best to keep superstar Victor Wembanyama quiet. His ability to do so earned postgame praise from Dillon Brooks, who said he is happy to let Maluach guard "Wemby" when the games start for real.
Project Maluach already in next phase after preseason showing
Brooks could not have been more complimentary of his center, going on to say that "It's a process. He's young, and he gets to see those types of matchups, and when we play them again because we're gonna play them about three times, we have trust in him to guard him and give me a little break if I don't need to guard him."
There is no tougher assignment for a young big in the NBA today—other than potentially Nikola Jokic—than Wembanyama. For Maluach, at the beginning of year two with the Suns, to be able to look relatively comfortable going up against a future league MVP winner is exactly what the franchise needs as they continue trying to build a winner.
Using his massive frame to be a nuisance for opponents is a skill Maluach had flashed in his rookie campaign, and he took that up a notch at Summer League. But this was the best version we have seen of him on the defensive end, not just using his body to bully opponents, but also understanding how and when to exert his influence in the paint.
Scoring the basketball is the part of the game where Maluach still has a long way to go, so to see him knock down a 3-pointer with Wembanyama still sitting in the paint as he popped out was a brilliant development. Oso Ighodaro still figures to be the big who starts on opening night for the Suns, but Maluach improved his own stock with a solid performance against the Western Conference champions.
Suns will be tough out with Brooks wanting to guard Wembanyama
Amid the positivity surrounding Maluach, Brooks said he trusted his teammate to take over guarding Wembanyama when the games start for real, giving the Canadian international a break. Reading between the lines, that means he will be the one who starts the game, tasked with slowing the superstar, and that desire to shut down all manner of opponents each night will again make the Suns a tough out.
You might remember, but Phoenix did an excellent job of keeping Wembanyama quiet during a couple of matchups last season, and they achieved this largely without Brooks having to guard him. Throwing different defenders his way is the best recipe for success, and Maluach and Brooks are as different as it gets in that area.
The Suns managed to win this game without Devin Booker and Miles Bridges, with the latter having begun life in The Valley extremely well and who promised to give the best account of himself on the defensive end at media day too. Maluach developing at a quicker pace than anticipated raises the ceiling of this group, and Brooks is just the latest member of the organization to be excited about just how good he can be for this team.
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