Khaman Maluach registers double-double, Rasheer Fleming contributes 16 points in Valley Suns loss
Phoenix Suns rookies Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming were assigned to the G League Valley Suns on Sunday and contributed a double-double and four-steal performance, respectively.
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Phoenix Suns rookies Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming were assigned to the G League Valley Suns on Sunday and contributed a double-double and 16-point, four-steal performance, respectively.
The rookies’ contributions came in the Valley Suns’ 111-107 loss to the Delaware Blue Coats at Mullett Arena in Tempe.
It was Maluach’s ninth appearance with the G League squad, and he recorded his second straight double-double with the team. The rookie contributed 10 points (4-of-14), 14 rebounds and two blocks.
The center picked 10th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft is averaging 15.8 points (35.7% on 2.3 3-point attempts per game), 12.3 rebounds and three blocks in 29.8 minutes per G League contest.
Maluach is coming off 7:42 of NBA game time over three appearances in Phoenix’s last four games. He did not attempt a shot in any of his recent appearances, scoring his only two points on free throws in the first of the three.
The rookie’s only NBA game with more than four points came on Oct. 25 when he totaled six points and two rebounds in 13 minutes.
Fleming, who made his eighth G League appearance after he was the 41st pick, contributed 16 points (7-of-19), seven rebounds, two assists and four steals in the Valley Suns’ loss.
He had appeared in four straight games for Phoenix, including a five-point, three-rebound effort in under six minutes on Friday. Fleming also appeared in 11 contests out of a 13-game stretch from Dec. 23 through Jan. 15, averaging 8.3 minutes per game.
Fleming is averaging 17.4 points (40% on seven 3-point attempts per game), 7.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals in G League action.
Arizona Sports’ Damon Allred and Douglas Santo contributed to this story.
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Comments
3 Comments
Dont know how to feel about this. A top 10 pick and they treated him like this is a project pick. Yet on the other hand, they are taking their time building him up.
The Suns are playing with house money, and as a result absolutely should be taking their time with Maluach. This young man is learning more than what we can see, especially as someone who's barely removed from his homeland.
Taking their time is the mantra the Suns needed after super-team/super-failure.
Injury precautions, look what it's done for Mark Williams. Bringing back Green slowly, he makes immediate impact when he does play.