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By Anne Erickson
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Khaman Maluach spent much of his first season in the NBA trying to find his footing.
That's normal for a young big man, especially one making the jump after a short college career and learning the skills required at the next level. This isn't college hoops.
Summer League gave him a chance to slow things down and show people what made him such an intriguing prospect in to begin with.
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The Suns center looked much more comfortable in Las Vegas, playing with confidence and using the tools that made teams so into him. At 7-foot-2, Maluach doesn't need to do anything complicated to impact a game. He changes shots just by being there. He always seems to make opponents think twice before going for a shot.
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But the encouraging part was seeing him do more than just stand tall. He moved. He acted.
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Maluach showed better timing as a rebounder, ran the floor hard and looked more comfortable making decisions with the ball. The game appeared to actually slow down for him, which is usually the biggest hurdle for young big men.
Early in their careers, everything can feel like a blur. Summer League gave Maluach a chance to play with a little more freedom, and he took advantage.
The Suns don't need him to be a superstar overnight. But they need to know they have someone to work with, and they do. Big men take time. The league has a long history of players needing patience before everything clicks.
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So, Maluach looked like a player starting to believe he belongs. Because of Summer League, people should start to see the player he's becoming, and it's a good one.
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