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The Phoenix Suns closed out their preseason schedule Tuesday night without any of their projected starters, including Devin Booker and Jalen Green. That opened the door for rookie center Khaman Maluach, the No. 10 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft, to make his first start of the preseason.
The Duke product made the most of the opportunity. After logging just 42 combined minutes across Phoenix’s first three preseason games, Maluach played 31 minutes in the finale and delivered an all-around performance. He scored 17 points on 8-for-10 shooting, grabbed eight rebounds, and added two assists. On the defensive end, he also tallied three steals and two blocks, showcasing the two-way potential that made him a top-10 pick.
Maluach finished as Phoenix’s third-leading scorer behind Jordan Goodwin and Jared Butler, who led the team with an impressive 35 points.
While it was just a preseason game, the Suns’ 113-104 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers was notable, as Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Deandre Ayton each played more than 20 minutes for Los Angeles.
Maluach’s performance could be an encouraging sign for Phoenix’s depth heading into the regular season. Having traded for Mark Williams over the summer, the Suns are expected to bring Maluach along gradually as a backup center. Still, if he continues to impress, he could challenge Nick Richards for rotation minutes.
The Suns now have a week off before their regular-season opener Oct. 22 at home against the Sacramento Kings, followed by a road matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 24.
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