Khaman Maluach made to look foolish in Summer League debut

The Phoenix Suns have high hopes for their trio of rookies this season, although none of have greater expectations on their shoulders than Khaman Maluach. The South Sudanese center is still only 18-years-old - but given the lack of big man success in Phoenix this decade - it will be on him to help solve the team's defensive woes.

Maluach will have help in the form of Mark Williams, although his injury history is a concern. Second year forward Oso Ighodaro is also going to get another look at impressing, and he has said all of the right things in speaking to the media ahead of Summer League play.

Tre Johnson makes Maluach look silly in Summer League debut.

Maluach's debut came against the Washington Wizards in Las Vegas, and right out the gate he showed some post moves that caught many by surprise. They were clunky to say the least - but given his height and softer than expected tough - also kind of worked? Take his first points below for example, not the prettiest but it still went in.

Maluach would go on to miss his next four shots, but defensively he was able to deter the Wizards from attacking the paint as much as they would have liked to. It was fellow rookie Tre Johnson - who early doors is looking both exciting and comfortable out there - who exposed the flaws in Maluach's game, but we have to remember that he is still so young.

Like many big men before him - and we have to remember how long it can take them to develop properly in the league - Maluach doesn't always seem to know what his massive frame is going to do next. As such he can be a touch tentative in committing to the ball or to going in any on direction, causing him to freeze. Johnson clearly knew this, and hit him with some straight disrespect.

That's something straight out of the playground, but if anything this can be a learning experience for the center. Whereas Johnson immediately looks comfortable playing with second year players out there, it is going to take Maluach a lot more time to get used to the smaller, quicker and more skillful opponents he will face in the league.

He doesn't come across as a complete bruiser either, but there will be plenty of time for him to add muscle. There is no point in overreacting to Summer League play, and one strong performance will have everybody forgetting how Johnson did Maluach dirty here. The path to an actual role in Phoenix hasn't been changed because of this, it is just a reality check when dealing with a player so young.