What qualifies as ‘unc’ status? Ask Suns rookie Khaman Maluach

When you’re 18 years old like Suns rookie Khaman Maluach, 30s seem like a lifetime away.

But what really qualifies as an “unc” (shortened form of uncle) anyway?

“(Born) below 2000s,” Maluach said in response to a question posed by a Bleacher Report crew.

“Do you think (Pacers’) Tyrese Haliburton is ‘unc’ then? Cuz he’s 25,” he was asked in a follow up.

Maluach had a pretty nuanced answer. And college was a factor.

“If he was in college, he would be unc,” Maluach explained. “But he’s in the NBA, so he’s not an unc.

“If you’re 25 or 26 in college, you’re unc. But if you 25 or 26 in the league, you’re big bro.”

we asked this NBA draft class what age somebody becomes “unc” and their responses were horrifying 😭pic.twitter.com/M6U59FT3Uu

— Molly Morrison (@mollyhannahm) July 18, 2025

Other fellow NBA rookies like No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg simply gave a cut-off year of 1995. Utah Jazz’s Ace Bailey went another route, saying anyone is unc once they hit 26 and are “off your people’s insurance.”

Either way, a great number of people are probably feeling old right now. Well, compared to the youngest of all NBA talent.

In three NBA Summer League games in Las Vegas, Maluach has averaged 10 points (36% shooting), 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 23.3 minutes per game. He shot 3 of 13 from three-point range, a skill the 7-footer is looking to add to his arsenal after hardly scratching the surface at Duke (16 3-point attempts in 39 games played).

Khaman Maluach not only Suns rookie with ‘unc’ opinions

Guard Koby Brea, 22, is a full eight years younger than four-time NBA All-Star Devin Booker. That can only mean one thing in this context.

“So is Devin Booker unc?,” Bleacher Report asked.

“He’s an unc for sure,” Brea said with a smile.

Rasheer Fleming, 21, was born in 2004.

Anyone born in 2003 or earlier? Unc status checked.

Brea flashed his shooter’s touch right out of the gates in Vegas, with a 7-of-10 (4-of-5 from 3) performance in the opener on July 11 against the Washington Wizards. In three games, he has averaged 12.0 points (42.4% shooting) and four rebounds in 23.9 minutes per game.

Fleming only saw two games of action thus far, scoring seven points in each contest on 6-of-13 shooting (2 of 7 from 3). In his most recent showing on Wednesday versus the Minnesota Timberwolves, the No. 31 pick had seven rebounds and a pair of steals.

The Summer Suns square off with the Portland Trail Blazers at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, for their fifth and final NBA Summer League game.

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