What was the one thing on Khaman Maluach’s mind during dominant showing vs Pelicans

LAS VEGAS– Khaman Maluach has come to play in the 2026 NBA Summer League. The Phoenix Suns’ second-year big man has plenty to prove and has had everyone’s eyes on him, especially after his performance against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.

He posted 15 points, 15 rebounds, two blocks, one steal, and maybe most importantly, zero turnovers. The big man had seven on Friday, so turning that corner was a point of emphasis. Much like Friday, he was consistently attacked by the defense.

New Orleans threw multiple bodies at him and tried swatting the ball out of his hands and forcing him to bobble. Unlike Friday, there were no butterfingers; only a commitment to keeping the possession alive.

The zero turnovers are a great sign, which made his 15-15 performance even more recognizable.

“It’s just the turnovers and being able to take care of the ball,” Maluach said when asked about his improvement after Sunday’s game. “I feel like I turned the ball over a lot yesterday. I feel like I did a better job today of taking care of the ball, and that’s something I’ve got to emphasize a lot, being able to take care of the ball, especially lately.

“When the season gets here in the NBA, I know a lot of people are going to press up into me and try to make me turn over the ball. I just got to be able to take care of the ball so that my coach can trust me on the ball.”

Suns’ Khaman Maluach’s dominance is an understatement

All the potential was there when the Suns drafted Maluach in the 2025 NBA Draft. He didn’t get the playing time like many of his rookie counterparts, but the organization knew what they were doing. They wanted to be patient. They didn’t need to immediately play him.

Instead, they chose to send him to the G League, where the development process could continue. Funny enough, the team’s Summer League head coach, Chaisson Allen, is a major part of that growth. He also worked with fellow rookie Rasheer Fleming, whose playing time soared.

The turnovers were only a microcosm of the dominance. Having that trust from his teammates and coaching staff can be pivotal once the regular season begins.

In a center room with Mark Williams and Oso Ighodaro, all three have uniquely different styles that almost complement one another. Nonetheless, Maluach might have the highest ceiling of all of them.

Getting his feet wet as a starter has shown Phoenix fans what life could look like in the coming years. The intensity, constant chip on the shoulder, and something to prove

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