Suns’ Rookie Stands Out in Preseason Win

Having offloaded superstar Kevin Durant, the Phoenix Suns have been — perhaps rightfully — written off for the 2025-26 season.

They’re now led by a trio of shooting guards in Devin Booker, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, and have a hodgepodge mix of veterans and up-and-coming youngsters filling out the rest of the roster. 

Rookie center Khaman Maluach is one of those youngsters, and he’ll have one of the biggest says in just how good this Suns team can be.

Tuesday night offered a look at that. In a nine-point win over the Lakers, who played more than a few legitimate contributors, Maluach added 17 points, eight rebounds and five stocks in looking like one of the best players on the court. He shot 80% overall, even shooting and hitting on one shot from beyond the arc.

Maluach did just about everything for Phoenix on the interior. He rebounded on both ends, set screens and rolled with tenacity, caught every pass in his vicinity and used improving hands to flush shots with ease. On defense, he put himself in position to make plays and did so, nabbing three steals and dishing two blocks.