Phoenix Suns rookie Khaman Maluach blocked and dunked his way to a real show of NBA-level development Sunday night against the Charlotte Hornets.
He just about sent guard Josh Green’s layup attempt to Tucson in the first quarter with an emphatic slap and in the second quarter followed up a Devin Booker missed 3 with a two-handed slam.
Whereas in his previous limited NBA minutes he struggled to display on-court awareness, Maluach demonstrated the anticipation players of the highest degree show game in and game out.
MAN MAN pic.twitter.com/q0RBm3sivo
— Cage (@ridiculouscage) March 9, 2026
MALUACH WITH THE PUTBACK pic.twitter.com/AoRbgNOBF9
— Cage (@ridiculouscage) March 9, 2026
Maluach logged his career-high 20 minutes in Friday’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans and got 11 in the first half against Charlotte.
The 7-foot-1 center recorded the team’s second-highest plus/minus tally at +9, only behind recently signed Haywood Highsmith’s +14.
He scored four points on 2-of-3 shooting and added five rebounds and the block while only picking up one foul.
Sunday marks the third game after Phoenix announced starting center Mark Williams will be re-evaluated in two to three weeks for a stress reaction in his left foot. It has opened the door to increased roles for Maluach and second-year pro Oso Ighodaro.
Catch the remainder of Suns-Hornets on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app.
