Welcome to Maluach-Watch, where the numbers tell part of the story.
Khaman Maluach is set to draw a lot of attention this season as he tries to carve out his first real stretch of consistent NBA minutes after Mark Williams’ injury opened the door. Last year barely gave anyone much to work with. Maluach appeared in 46 games, but he averaged just 8.9 minutes a night, which makes it tough to pull strong conclusions from the stat line alone.
That uncertainty is part of why his second season feels so intriguing. He’s 20, he’s had a full summer to grow, and he’s finally in position to show more than flashes. The big question is what that looks like once the minutes are real.
For this team, the center spot isn’t built around big scoring numbers. With Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and Miles Bridges filling the other four starting spots, the offense is going to run through those guys.
The center’s job is more about complementing that group. Defensively, though, that’s where Maluach has a chance to matter.
The stat that stands out here is rebounds + blocks + steals per 36 minutes. It’s not a complete picture, and nobody should mistake it for a perfect defensive scorecard.
But it does offer a useful baseline, especially when you’re trying to compare a player whose minutes were so limited. By that measure, Maluach finished last season ranked among the top five centers in the NBA.
That number obviously comes with asterisks. Per-36 stats can stretch a small sample into something bigger than it really is, and Maluach’s 8.9 minutes per game last season make the projection especially shaky. Still, the figure does give us a starting point, and it’s one worth watching as his role grows.
Through the first two preseason games against the Pistons and Bulls, the defensive issues were pretty clear. Maluach looked uncomfortable, and on the glass he wasn’t finishing possessions cleanly. He was tipping rebounds instead of controlling them, his positioning was shaky, and he seemed to be processing rather than reacting.
But one thing has followed him through Summer League, the G League, and NBA action: he tends to adjust. Whether it happens midgame or in the next outing, he has shown an ability to figure out what went wrong and respond.
That showed up in his third preseason game. He was more decisive on the boards, better in his positioning, and looked much more comfortable handling his defensive responsibilities. One play that stood out came when he picked Jordan McLaughlin’s pocket, a reminder of the instincts that make him such a fascinating developmental piece.
The early preseason numbers still line up with what he did last season. His rebounds + blocks + steals per 36 was 15.0 a year ago, and through 21.8 preseason minutes, with 8.0 rebounds, 0.7 blocks, and 0.3 steals, he’s sitting at 14.9.
As the season moves along, that’s the number to follow, along with what Maluach is doing on the floor. The weekly check-in will be about whether the stats keep matching the eye test as his role expands.
In Other News...
Suns Suddenly Face Real Doubt After Their Risky Offseason
The Suns spent the summer trying to double down on talent and patience at the same time, a tricky balance for any team that believes its window still matters. Bringing in Miles Bridges and locking in Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks signaled a front office intent on staying aggressive, even as the roster continued to look like one built for urgency more than certainty.
John Hollingers recent forecast only sharpened the unease, with Phoenix pegged for a tie for ninth in the West and more questions than comfort around where this group is headed next. Mark Williams torn labrum adds another layer of concern, because for a team already carrying real risk in its offseason choices, health may end up being the thing that decides whether the gamble pays off or starts to unravel. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Taking No Chances With Miles Bridges Before Opening Night
Miles Bridges ankle injury has the Suns in a cautious place this preseason, but not an alarmed one. Head coach Jordan Ott said the ankle is recovering well, and the team is making it clear there is no reason to hurry him back before the games start to count. The issue is not expected to linger for multiple weeks, and the early read is that Bridges should be in position for the regular-season opener on Oct. 21.
For Phoenix, the patience makes sense because Bridges offers a mix of size, athleticism and offensive versatility that is hard to replace if the team pushes too hard too soon. The Suns also know what still needs to sharpen on his end, with defense remaining a point of emphasis, so getting him back healthy matters more than forcing a preseason return. For now, the story is less about a setback than a team choosing the long view with one of its more interesting two-way pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Khaman Maluach Could Be The Suns Wrinkle Devin Booker Needs
Devin Bookers preseason has already offered a familiar reminder of how much Phoenix still leans on his shot-making, even when the jumper isnt falling. Through two losses, he has made just one of 12 three-point attempts, a stretch that has only sharpened the focus on how the Suns can make life easier for their best scorer when defenses load up and the floor tightens.
Khaman Maluach is one of the more interesting answers in that discussion. The rookie big has flashed as a floor-spacing option, and that kind of skill can matter quickly for a team trying to open driving lanes and restore some offensive balance around Booker. If Maluach keeps showing that he can stretch the floor and hold his own, he could start working his way into more minutes as Phoenix looks for a better fit around its star guard. [Read more 🡒]