Koby Brea scores 29, Khaman Maluach posts double-double in G League action
Suns rookies Khaman Maluach and Koby Brea both made strides in their professional development on Sunday in G League play against the Stockton Kings.
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The Valley Suns have yet to win a game this G League season (0-7), but 2025 Suns draft picks Koby Brea and Khaman Maluach continued to make progress with their individual games on Sunday in a 123-105 loss to the Stockton Kings.
Brea led all scorers with 29 points at Mullett Arena on 10 of 18 shooting, including an efficient 5 of 11 from 3. He added nine rebounds (one offensive), three assists and committed only one turnover.
In seven games played, Brea has maximized his minutes at 36.7 per game and has averaged 21.2 points on 44.3% from the field.
He registered 39 minutes on Sunday.
For Maluach, he posted a double-double (15 points, 14 rebounds) in his third G League game this season and second since being given the assignment from the Suns.
He shot 6-for-12 (0-for-3 from 3) and had three blocks and five offensive boards.
Maluach upped his shot count from seven on Tuesday against the Rip City Remix, also in Tempe. Turnovers were still a bit of problem, however, as the rookie had four after five earlier this week.
A regular rotating role at center with the NBA Suns has yet to become available for Maluach, despite Mark Williams not yet playing in a single back-to-back and Nick Richards struggling in his minutes off the bench.
Maluach did appear for four minutes in Saturday’s Suns loss to the Nuggets once a win was out of reach.
The 7-footer has played in nine NBA games so far and has only logged double-digit minutes in one of them (13 vs. Denver Nuggets on Oct. 25). He has scored 13 points in 42 total minutes on 3 of 8 shooting and has four blocks to his name.
Rasheer Fleming, who has made 10 NBA game appearances, also suited up in Sunday’s game, finishing with three points (1 of 5 shooting), five rebounds and two turnovers in 30 minutes.
Brea has appeared in four NBA games between the preseason and regular season, seeing significant minutes (25) in one preseason tilt against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 14.
The next opportunity for the rookie trio to see NBA action is Monday at 8 p.m. MST at the Lakers.
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Comments
7 Comments
Coach Ott has a development plan for Khaman - keep him away from Richards so he doesn’t develop bad habits.
Maluach when he does get playing time looks absolutely lost. This kid needed to spend another 3 years at College. I don’t think he really knows how to play basketball. He’s tall. ✅ He’s got good character ✅
That’s it. He has such limited skill and he’s not as athletic as I was expecting. Which brings me to ponder if GLeague is just bad, maybe these players need to play oversees instead? Fleming looks much better.
You all are better versed than me, so keep that in mind when I make comments like this. Will the G league ever be a good farm system for the Suns like what the DBACKS have in the MLB? I like how they can play and get better, and not get run over by the shock and awe of the NBA. Earn their way to be called up, use what they learned and progress. Get a chance, show what they worked on, succeed or fail, back to the G League and use what they have been told to work on, and try again. It has worked for the DBACKS, maybe these kids will get a chance to get the 411 on NBA action and develop.
Ott has shown that he is not opposed to using new talent. A seriously diminished Suns beating the Lakers is a testament to that and not just in that game. I have a lot more confidence that this new head coach is going to give these kids a chance to show what they learned and developed, and send them back with a fresh list of objectives to work on, achieve, and be evaluated. And that matters. My 2 cents.