The NBA is officially back, which means ESPN's Tim Legler has taken to the All NBA Podcast to draft what he calls his "My Guys" selection of underrated players throughout the league. His first pick? Phoenix Suns' center Khaman Maluach, still 20 years old and clearly already impressing Legler with his mountain of potential.
Legler loves Maluach's attitude towards Summer League stint
Speaking to host Adam Mares about taking the South Sudanese big man first, Legler could not have been more full of praise for how Maluach approached being asked to go to Summer League in Las Vegas despite having played a full season for the Suns, including in the playoffs.
"Khaman Maluach went into Phoenix with that mentality. As a lottery pick, they asked him to go (to Summer League), he wanted to go, and he was dominant. He did it all over the place: on the glass, as a shot-blocker, he shot the ball well from the perimeter. I am really excited about what year two is going to look like for him."
Legler isn't the only one high on the former 10th overall pick, with his own Head Coach, Jordan Ott, admitting that he is still in with a chance of starting for the Suns on opening night. To be in the running despite fellow big Oso Ighodaro having just signed an extension on his rookie deal shows how successful his offseason was, and that everybody from his own coaches to the media believes in his potential.
Few youngsters in the league have the potential to pop in such an exciting way as Maluach, as his development will raise the Suns' ceiling. In his rookie campaign, he looked lost offensively and had no consistent moves he could go to in order to get a bucket. On the other end of the court, his massive frame deterred opponents from coming into the paint more than anything he was actually doing.
Already at Summer League and in preseason, he has shown a much better understanding of how he can be an anchor defensively (there is still a long way to go), while his 3-point shot came out of nowhere and the mechanics look consistent. If he can have a two-way impact quickly, Legler will be proven correct, and there will be no need for two recent signings by the organization.
Maluach's attitude ensures Legler is right to pick him
If it feels like this is all coming too fast for such a raw prospect, that is only because the Suns need Maluach to begin contributing regularly as soon as possible. Their future is bleak, but if he turns into a two-way monster, that would change everything. Maluach, to his credit, spent the offseason willingly going to Summer League, while he also sought out Devin Booker to work together.
He has already spoken about how he doesn't care whether he starts or not; he just wants to help the team win. It is that attitude that Coach Ott surely loves and will help him over the course of a long season when things are not going his way. Ighodaro likely will start, and there will be periods when he is not playing as much as he would like. Legler believes in Maluach, and you should too.
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