Khaman Maluach is entering his second NBA season with the Phoenix Suns. And if you’re expecting him to sound like a guy feeling the weight of being a lottery pick, you’re not listening to the right guy.
Speaking with Suns reporter Shane Young, Maluach made it clear that external expectations aren’t really part of his mental landscape right now.
“There’s no pressure really,” Maluach said. “Outside noise doesn’t affect me. I just have to focus on staying with the process of really being where my feet are. Don’t overthink everything, and don’t think too [far] in the future.”
That kind of calm is notable for a 20-year-old big man taken 10th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. Maluach came out of Duke after a strong freshman season and looked like a project pick who could develop into something more. His rookie year was modest — 46 games played, one start, a little over eight minutes a night. He averaged 3.0 points and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 53.3 percent from the field and 71 percent from the line.
Nothing flashy. But the Suns saw enough to invest in his growth, giving him reps with their G League affiliate, the Valley Suns, during the season.
Summer League Changed the Conversation
Then Las Vegas happened. Over four NBA Summer League games, Maluach put up 19.5 points, 12.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.0 blocks. The shooting splits were the real story: 53.2 percent from the field, 40 percent from three and 68.4 percent from the free-throw line.
That outside shooting is especially interesting for a 7-foot-2 center. If it translates to the regular season, it changes how Phoenix can use him. The Suns didn’t have a lot of frontcourt depth last season, and Maluach’s ability to stretch the floor while protecting the rim gives them something they’ve been missing.
But development isn’t linear. The Suns are trying to compete now, and Maluach still has to earn minutes behind a rotation that includes Jusuf Nurkic and some veteran additions. That’s where the mental side matters. And by his own admission, he’s not letting the noise get in.
“Don’t overthink everything,” he said. That’s easier said than done for a 20-year-old getting paid millions and playing next to Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. But Maluach sounds like he understands the assignment.
The Suns don’t need him to be a star right now. They need him to keep developing, keep shooting, and keep his head level. So far, that’s exactly what he’s doing.
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