When the Phoenix Suns kicked off the season, the front court had already seen some setbacks. Last year’s starting center, Mark Williams, who earned a nice extension, was reportedly out with a torn labrum. This would force the Suns to sign Duop Reath to a two-way contract to ensure they had a third center on the roster for opening night. Not only that, but it raised an even bigger question: who would start on opening night? Would it be Oso Ighodaro, the veteran big man who took over as the starter
late in the season, or Khaman Maluach, the lottery selection from the Suns in the 2025 draft, who is set to be the center of the future?
That question was answered when Khaman Maluach saw the floor with the starters as the Suns took on the Trail Blazers on opening night. Unfortunately for the Suns and Maluach, the lights were brighter than expected, and the team was run off the floor basically in the first quarter. The Suns bounced back in their next game against Golden State, but with Ighodaro injured in the opener, the center rotation was thin. With the Suns also facing the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets, this didn’t help, as Maluach was forced to play against top-tier bigs and defensive teams, which disrupted his chance to build momentum.
When Ighodaro returned from injury, many fans expected him to get the starting job, but Maluach still started. This continued for a few more games until game seven, when the Suns faced the Orlando Magic. This was a must-win for the Suns, as they had just lost at home the night before to the Portland Trail Blazers in embarrassing fashion.
In this game, the Suns found their offensive groove and punished a team that couldn’t make a shot defensively, taking command and winning to show fans they are the team they have been preaching about. A big reason was plugging in Oso Ighodaro as the starting center; his screening allowed Devin Booker to hunt his shots early and score 23 first-half points. What was nice to see, though, was that Maluach looked more comfortable with the bench unit.
Against the Magic, he had eight points (4-for-6 FG), six rebounds, two assists, and two steals, and finished with a +13 in 22 minutes, which is solid for him as he settles into that new role. His active hands helped on defense, and even though he struggled against Wendell Carter Jr. to get all the boards, he put up some fight, which was nice to see. In his next opportunity against the Rockets, though, he showed that this potential can be great with this bench mob.
Versus the Rockets, he had eight points (3-for-4 FG), ten rebounds, one steal, two blocks, and finished with a +11 in 18 minutes. Once again, he seemed more comfortable with the bench unit and hungry to grab boards. Without Steven Adams and Clint Capela, the Suns still struggled against a tall Rockets team, but Malauch held his own and kept fighting for opportunities. He also did a solid job on the defensive end against Alperen Sengun, really limiting him until the final quarter. His active hands helped him get three stocks, and that trend will continue to help his stock rise in fans’ eyes.
After two solid games, the Suns took on last year’s Western Conference champion, the San Antonio Spurs, and it was a rough one for them ultimately. However, Maluach looked solid (as solid as a sophomore backup big can be) in minutes against Victor Wembanyama and gave Suns fans something to look forward to. Even if he only had five rebounds, he scored 11 points (4-for-6 FG) and showed his range by hitting his only three-point attempt.
The game that really made this clear, though, was the latest one against the Los Angeles Clippers. Similar to the Blazers game they lost, the Suns needed to win the second half of the back-to-back in commanding fashion, just like they did against the Magic. Luckily, the Suns did, beating them 133-110, and once again Man Man showed his ability to be impactful. In just 22 minutes, he posted 11 points (4-5, 0-for-1 3FG) and went 100% from the FT line in back-to-back nights. Add seven boards and three assists to that night, and you see his nightly growth.
He has to show he can beat down these bad teams, and he went up against Isaiah Jackson for most of the night. In this recent game, he showed his knack for keeping the fight on the glass and the awareness to recognize when to make a smart pass. Not only that, but his two-person game with Collin Gillepsie has really grown, with CG finding easy passes for two points in the paint for Man Man. Truly, this switch has not only helped Maluach and his development to find himself and not be rushed to go against the Nikola Jokics of the world yet, but also aids the starters as well.
With Ighodaro now thrust into the starting lineup, the Suns have someone who isn’t going to play hero ball. They have someone who will do the dirty work and make the smart plays with them, which is what they need. Ighodaro’s screening has received high praise from Booker this season, and it gives him the freedom to get to his spots efficiently and wide open. His passing also helps, as he can set up valuable back-door cuts, find the right man, or make the extra pass. This allows the offense to move the ball more, stay more fluid as a unit, and generate looks for the open man.
All in all, this move has been beneficial, as a healthy lineup of Gillespie, Goodwin, Kennard, Dunn, and Maluach can rival some of the league’s best benches. This will benefit Maluach as he learns to grow and become a starter in the future. Gillespie’s ability to set up Ighodaro and Williams in the past, when they were on the bench, makes me confident he can do the same with Maluach. You also add that this move makes the starters look a bit better, and it’s pure joy. For Man Man, I think this was the best move of his young career, and he’ll have fans buy into his potential as a true centerpiece of this team, and I cannot wait to see that unfold before our eyes.
