The Phoenix Suns succeeded in doing something that no one kept possible this season, and that was somehow a lottery picking in the NBA design of 2025. There had to be an advantage to continue with Kevin Durant – and while Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green were both boys who can now help the team in the future.
Even better that it came to a position where the organization was struggling since the removal of Deandre Ayton, with the 19-year-old South Sudanese prospect Khaman Maluach the apparent answer to their prayers. His Summer League show was at his best shaky – even in simple attacking movements looked uncomfortable – but there was no denial of the impressive framework that he owns.
Maluach will spend time in the G League this season.
The Suns also did the right – at least from the perspective of the development of Maluach – on the market for another big man in Mark Williams who can start immediately and decrease the pressure of the 10th general choice. That is if Williams can stay healthy – and despite being only 23 years old – that is far from a given. That makes his expansion with the franchise a thorny issue to look at.
No matter how Williams eventually goes in Phoenix, you can be sure that the coaching staff will make the decision to send Maluach to the G League at a certain moment during the season. This is no reason to panic, and is in fact a wise approach to take him slowly, even in a time when the expectations have been reduced en masse.
At first I didn’t see what the hype was about Kaman Maluach until I looked at it closer !!!
He closes entire possessions and turns the game upside down.
The Suns received a day-an impact player !! 👇 pic.twitter.com/skcpestsca
– Denchmansports (@Drechmansports) September 20, 2025
When the regular season finally starts, the first two games of the Suns will take them against the Sacramento Kings and La Clippers. Maluach will probably not start with both games, but even if he plays 15 minutes, the opponent will definitely try to choose him every night and Maluach will give a “welcome to the competition”.
Both teams have centers that also represent enormous different challenges, and there are few more complete attacking players in the position than Domantas Sabonis. His power is undervalued when there is something, but through his footwork, which goes out of the post and the game around the edge, he can tie up accomplished veterans. Maluach is seriously struggling against that.
Then there is Ivica Zubac from the Clippers, a brutal that comes from a career season. The prospect of going hard to Maluach is certainly a seductive one, and it will be interesting to see how he reacts. Keep in mind, those are the first two games of one 82 Game Slate. Imagine Nikola Jokic supporting him. Even Ayton will bring his A -Game for that matchup when it happens.
So give him the opportunity to go to the G League to get his bearings – and also to bully a few smaller boys in the process – his self -confidence will give the world of good. The Rookie wall also touches every young person, and Maluach becomes no exception. Even if he succeeds in surprising everyone and his own state against Sabonis and Zubac – a huge question – will still happen for a while.
If this is the case, social media will be flooded with rival fans who call the big man a failure, that is simply the name of the game. But Suns fans don’t have to worry because this is normal and probably also needed. It takes years for centers to reach their full potential – and for the time being at least and as long as booker does not complain about it – the Suns are in the world all the time.
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