Khaman Maluach is answering every question the right way

Coming into Phoenix Suns Summer League, there were conversations about the potential concern that would exist if, by this time next year, we hadn’t seen meaningful progression from second-year lottery pick Khaman Maluach. After three games in Las Vegas, I don’t think there’s much reason to worry about a lack of progression anymore.

Yes, this is Summer League, and it’s easy to overreact. But if we’re looking at this simply through the lens of progression, evaluating whether a player is displaying better physical tools and a stronger mental understanding of where he needs to be on the court, how he should attack offensively, how he should defend, and how he can become more effective, it feels like Maluach has passed this segment of the test. If you have two eyes and a heartbeat, you can’t help but get excited about what we’ve seen thus far in Las Vegas. Maluach is averaging 18.3 points, 12 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game. Oh, and he’s shooting 40% from deep on five attempts per game.

And it’s not only the counting stats that look nice. It’s the manner in which he’s playing the game. He’s doing so with an energy and fervor that are palpable. He’s yelling at players after denying their shots at the cylinder. As a back-line defender, he’s communicating with his teammates, directing traffic and letting them know where they need to be.

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When it’s all said and done, after playing a tough, gritty, physical game, Maluach remains insightful in his observations and thoughtful about where he stands relative to his progression.

“It’s really important, by taking care of every rep and not taking any rep for granted,” Khaman said after his performance in the Suns’ 95-88 win over the Bucks on Monday night. “It’s a process, my time eventually will come, and I just gotta be ready for the opportunity that I don’t have rather than having an opportunity, and I’m ready for it.”

He’s 19, man. Damn, that was eloquently put. Forgive me as I take a few moments to gameplan how I am going to repair the wall I just ran through.

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To see this progression is…

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Publish date : 2026-07-15 01:00:00

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