Suns’ Khaman Maluach turning up the volume in Year 2

Phoenix Suns center Khaman Maluach enters his second NBA season with the same mentality he had as a rookie, taking advantage of every rep possible.

He’s not stopping there, though, as he’s quickly become a leader to the rookies finding their NBA footing just like the young center was a year prior during Summer League prep.

“I’m not a vet. I would be more like a leader, be more vocal because I know most of the stuff we’re going to run, most of our coverages or how we do stuff here at the Suns facility,” Maluach told reporters on Monday. “I’m just more like helping my teammates, guiding them through everything because I’ve been through the same process, too.”

Maluach’s leadership this offseason isn’t just rubbing off on the rookies, either.

“He’s one of the most skilled big man I know,” Rasheer Fleming, whose familiarity in the system is also helping him take steps as a leader, said Monday. “He could kind of do it all. … He’s very vocal.

“That’s one of the things about him is he’s very vocal at that young age. He’s definitely a leader. I’m excited for him in his development.”

Maluach is coming off 46 games (one start) as a rookie last year. He averaged three points on 53.3% shooting. He added 2.9 rebounds across 8.9 minutes per game.

Earning a larger role in the rotation is the goal for the young big man in Year 2, though Maluach will have some competition with center Mark Williams sticking around on a three-year deal.

Regardless of roster construction, Maluach has seen a noticeable bump in confidence and energy that should help him when it comes to battling for minutes.

And becoming more of a leader to those around him certainly doesn’t hurt.

“I had confidence in the first year, but my confidence has grown coming in my second year, because I feel like I know more stuff now,” Maluach said. “I feel like I got better from last year to now.”

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