The 7-foot-1 South Sudanese big man, taken 10th overall out of Duke, has quickly become a defensive presence for Phoenix in his rookie campaign. With the Suns leading 97-84 in the fourth quarter against New Orleans, Maluach plants himself in the paint as Zion Williamson attacks the basket. The 19-year-old rotates over and meets Williamson at the summit not once, but twice, rejecting each driving layup attempt with authority. Maluach tallied 5 blocks in the 118-116 victory. · Mar 7, 2026