Not to beat a dead horse but the Phoenix Suns will look a lot different next season. Frankly, the turnover since Mat Ishbia took over as the franchise owner has become commonplace, for better and for worse. Even so, with two multi-time All-Stars —Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal — being replaced by multiple players without a single All-Star selection between them, this change is their most dramatic yet. That’s not even factoring in that they’ve moved away from accomplished retreads on the sidelines, hiring first-year head coach Jordan Ott.
All of that being said, with the NBA now in the full throes of training camp, the focus is on the Suns newcomers. Dillon Brooks‘s defense, competitiveness and camaraderie are welcomed to a team that had problems in all three areas last season. Jalen Green‘s all-around upside has perhaps been undersold, and he’ll have the opportunity to prove that soon enough. 2025 No. 31 pick Rasheer Fleming has a chance to take over as the starting power forward. 2025 No. 10 pick Khaman Maluach is already “commanding the defense.”
Suns Rookie Khaman Maluach ‘Commanding the Defense’ in Training Camp
On Saturday, Suns three-point specialist Grayson Allen spoke to the media about what he’s been seeing early in training camp. When asked about the team’s center group, which has suddenly become their deepest position, Allen notes that Maluach, Nick Richards and Oso Ighodaro have been “battling.”
(Note: Mark Williams has been a limited participant in training camp)
“They’ve all been good,” Allen says (h/t Arizona Republic reporter Duane Rankin). Like, today, we played a lot of live scrimmage and the level of rebounding –both offensively and defensively –was great today and it started with our 5s grabbing a bunch of tough rebounds.”
Speaking specifically about Maluach, Allen emphasized the 7-foot-2 big man’s intangibles:
“He talks nonstop on the court. Like he’s commanding the defense, calling out coverages, constantly talking.”
Grayson Allen on Suns rookie 7-footer Khaman Maluach talking on defense: “He talks nonstop on the court. Like he’s commanding the defense, calling out coverages, constantly talking. For a rookie, let alone a 19-year-old guy to come into a gym and do that first day of training… pic.twitter.com/Ygd0LYbTR6
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) September 27, 2025
“For a rookie, let alone a 19-year-old guy, to come into a gym and do that first day of training camp is impressive. He’s already ready in that aspect.”
Allen didn’t exactly call Maluach the next Hakeem Olajuwon, who’s widely considered the best African player ever. He didn’t even invoke the name of Maluach’s countryman, two-time block champion Manute Bol. Nevertheless, his assessment is precisely what Suns fans should want to hear.
The Last Word On Khaman Maluach
Over the years, point guards and centers have been considered to have the steepest learning curves entering the NBA. For starters, both positions require a certain level of basketball IQ. Point guards are quarterbacking the offense and centers are organizing the defense. Furthermore, they have to get used to the strength and physicality that grown men (ie. not college-aged males) possess. This is particularly true of centers, who have to guard and attempt to score against players who are typically the biggest and strongest on the court.
Maluach’s basketball journey hasn’t been typical though.
When a lot of American prospects would be in high school, he was playing in the Basketball Africa League (BAL), a professional league that had him pitted against novices and veterans alike. After leaving the BAL, he played for South Sudan’s heart-warming Olympic team in Paris. Then, he didn’t just join any NCAA team, but a blue blood program (Duke) with title aspirations.
At first i didn’t see what the hype was about Khaman Maluach until i took a closer look!!!
He shuts down entire possessions and flips the game on its head.
The Suns got a day-one impact player!!👇 pic.twitter.com/SKcpeStsCA
— Drenchmansports (@drenchmansports) September 20, 2025
At times, Maluach had trouble in the very area teenagers tend to have, matching physicality and communicating. However, those experiences help put him ahead of the curve. Though he has plenty to work on, he’s more comfortable in those areas than many other rookies would be.
© Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
