This move has aided the development of Khaman Maluach and the Phoenix Suns
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The Phoenix Suns' frontcourt has faced early challenges this season, but a key personnel move appears to be paying dividends for young center Khaman Maluach. With last year’s starting center, Mark Williams, sidelined by a torn labrum, the Suns signed Duop Reath to a two-way deal to fill the roster spot.
That left an opening-night starting job between veteran Oso Ighodaro and Maluach, the 2025 lottery pick. Despite a rough opener against Portland—where the Suns were dominated in the first quarter—they quickly adjusted, and Maluach earned the starting role, even as Ighodaro’s injury forced him into early high-leverage matchups against elite bigs like Oklahoma City and Denver.
By Game 7, however, the Suns shifted to Ighodaro at center, and the strategy proved effective: he unlocked Devin Booker’s scoring with smart screens, while Maluach thrived off the bench. Against Orlando, Maluach posted 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals in 22 minutes, showing poise in a backup role, and followed that up with strong defensive energy in a win over Houston.
The rotation tweak has given Maluach the right balance of opportunity and development as the Suns build toward his long-term role.
