Pat Spencer cut an excited promo to the assembled media for the first time at Phoenix Suns media day, revealing how new teammate Khaman Maluach has already left a lasting impression on the 30-year-old. Speaking about the big man, Spencer said, "Best energy of anyone I've seen in the league so far." That's high praise considering he can call Stephen Curry a former teammate.
Maluach has “best energy” Spencer has ever seen in NBA
Media day quickly became a bit of a love-in for the 20-year-old big man, with General Manager Brian Gregory confirming that Maluach will be given the opportunity to push for a starting berth. Everybody raved about his desire to learn, while Devin Booker spent time during the offseason working with the South Sudanese international.
It is one thing to spend time at the practice facility with the franchise cornerstone and to have the front office talking up a former 10th overall pick. But for a two-way guard who is fighting for his own spot in Phoenix to go out of his way to praise Maluach is worth taking notice of.
Clearly, the unfortunate injury to Mark Williams has created an opportunity for him to seize a bigger role in Phoenix and make it his for the rest of the decade, and nobody in the organization is shying away from that happening sooner than anticipated.
Maluach dominating from the jump would also make Spencer’s life easier when he is not in the G League because the prospect of running a successful two-man game with a monster inside will reflect positively on him as well.
Spencer already looking like right character to have in Phoenix
Spencer’s attitude towards Maluach and being in The Valley in general is exactly what the franchise needs from top to bottom to continue being competitive. It might make more sense for Duop Reath to take one of the valuable two-way spots on this team, but it should not come at the expense of Spencer.
His gritty and physical style of play is exactly what this group will need during a long regular season, and there are similarities between him and Collin Gillespie’s initial run with the Suns, with both making their mark by working hard and playing a position of need in the backcourt.
If Spencer can quickly form chemistry with Maluach while also coexisting in the backcourt with Booker, his role on this roster will grow. He will have the back of his young and bruising teammate in the paint in Maluach in the process.
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