The Phoenix Suns have an exciting roster heading into Summer League in Las Vegas, with 19-year-old center Khaman Maluach among their most intriguing prospects at the competition.
The franchise didn't get much out of their prospect in his rookie campaign, but they also did not expect to. The G League was a different animal however, with the South Sudanese big man dominating many of the games he appeared in.
Summer League won't lead to greater impact from Maluach, yet...
Which is why fans will have to temper expectations when Maluach has some dominant performances, which he is going to. For all of his shortcomings on understanding the game and how best to use his massive frame, his sheer size and physicality will be too much for many opponents trying to make a name for themselves.
Head coach Jordan Ott threw him into a playoff series versus the Oklahoma City Thunder, and while that went how you would have expected it to, his size is too hard to ignore and will lead to some highlight moments out in Vegas.
This will not lead to a bigger role to begin the 2026-27 season, and fans should not be concerned by that fact. The organization brought back Mark Williams for a reason, and he will remain the top center here as long as he is healthy.
Oso Ighodaro also complicates matters for Maluach, as he has spent time at the five and could be closer to the trade block than many realize. We already saw flashes of what he can do in his own sophomore season, and he ended the year in a good place in Phoenix.
He works well off the bench, can play across the forward line and has a burst of athleticism that Maluach currently cannot compete with. Last season when not in the G League he appeared in 46 games at a shade under nine minutes each night.
Surprisingly in his brief postseason appearance that number climbed to 11.3 minutes as he appeared in all four games of the sweep, and although coach Ott was trying anything to see if he could gain an advantage, that still bodes well for Maluach.
If he could get to 15 minutes a night and something like four points, six boards and the Suns having a positive defensive rating when he is on the court, then that should be viewed as a success.
Those numbers will be blown out of the water at Summer League, but remember this is a process and one which Maluach is currently right where he is supposed to be.
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