It was a rare rainy day in Phoenix. As the sprinkles began to fall outside Mortgage Matchup Center, where the massive LED screen proudly displayed Suns Media Day, I entered the arena with one primary question in mind: Who made the biggest impression on this team during the offseason?
After all, this is a team built on continuity. From the players to the coaching staff and throughout the organization, there is a level of consistency from one year to the next that provides an advantage. When you have
that kind of familiarity, the people within the organization are in the best position to recognize who has progressed the most and what that progression looks like.
And throughout Media Day, one name kept coming up. Khaman Maluach.
The 20-year-old, second-year big man finds himself in a unique situation entering this season. After showcasing his growth and development during Summer League in Las Vegas, there was already an expectation that Maluach would earn more playing time with the Phoenix Suns. Then came the injury to Mark Williams, one that is expected to cost him multiple months of the season. Suddenly, Maluach’s developmental timeline would be dictated by necessity rather than the team’s preferred pace. The opportunity to take on a larger role arrived earlier than anticipated, bringing with it increased expectations and responsibilities.
But based on what his teammates and coaches had to say about the player he’s become this offseason, it appears there’s no time like the present for that opportunity to begin.
“When you see his body today, his body’s changed,” Suns GM Brian Gregory had to say of Malauch. “He’s gotten stronger, he runs differently, he moves differently. He’s still just turned 20 years old, so there’s a huge growth potential there. But when we talk about the work ethic and putting in the time for that development, he’s done it every single day, a lot of times twice a day. On the defensive end, he showed his ability to be a rim protector, an impactful defensive rebounder, and the energy that he plays with is contagious.”
“Man, that’s my brother right there,” Oso Ighodaro stated. “We show up every day and push each other in the weight room, in our workouts, and in pickup. And even in pickup, when we’ll be on opposite teams, we’ll be talking to each other and helping each other, giving each other pointers. When I come back at night and work out, and he’s in the gym with me, I’m just grateful to have him as my teammate and someone to compete against every single day.”
“He is one of the hardest workers I’ve been around in my career in just such a short time,” newly acquired Luke Kennard said. “He’s worked on his shot a lot, and it looks really good, and he just plays hard. He’s a competitor, and when you have a guy that is skilled — because he’s a skilled player, he can shoot the ball — but when you have a guy that also competes and plays hard, that goes a long way. I know he’s been here working his butt off all summer, and it’s been really cool to see and get connected with him. Obviously, being from Duke, we share a little bit in common.”
“Khaman, just his leadership, his presence being felt on both sides of the floor is great,” Ryan Dunn commented.
“I feel really different, bodywise, strength-wise,” Maluach noted when asked about his physical growth. “Credit to our strength and conditioning team and our development team. I feel like I’ve got stronger. Being able to be in the weight room, just being able to work on my body or how I move, I think it’s a big piece for me. The strength is going to help me stay healthy throughout the whole time.”
I walked into Media Day wondering who had made the biggest leap this offseason. By the time I left, the answer was pretty clear. Maluach has gotten stronger, improved his skill set, and earned the respect of the people who work alongside him every day. Now comes the difficult part. Turning that development into consistent NBA production. Mark Williams’ injury has accelerated the timeline, and Maluach appears ready to embrace the responsibility. The opportunity is here. It’s time to find out how much he’s grown.
