Khaman Maluach already has one of those uncomfortable rookie moments every young player eventually experiences, and his came courtesy of Peyton Watson.
During a sit-down conversation with his Phoenix Suns teammate Dillon Brooks, Maluach said that Watson gave him his first official “welcome to the NBA” moment in a game against the Denver Nuggets.
“My welcome-to-the-league moment was when we played in Denver, and I got subbed in. And I remember Peyton Watson coming off the pick-and-roll, and I’m thinking like, ‘Oh, I’m just gonna body up.'”
“And he goes up, and he dunks the ball, and like, boom, boom. I see the whole base up, and I was like, ‘Yep, welcome to the league, man.'”
It was the perfect introduction to how quickly things happen in the NBA.
At 7-foot-2, Maluach has the size and length to challenge almost anyone at the rim. His instinct was to meet Watson at the basket and use his wingspan to shut down the rim. Instead, Watson exploded through the play and finished with a highlight dunk.
Brooks could only laugh while also giving Maluach credit for not allowing the moment to change how physically he plays.
“But one thing about you, though, is that you don’t care about none of that shit. Because half the time, you’re gonna get those blocks. But that one was a pretty good highlight. I can’t even lie.”
That might be the most important part of Maluach’s story. Young defenders are inevitably going to get dunked on. The ones who become great defenders are usually the ones who keep challenging anyway.
Khaman Maluach reveals his welcome to the league moment to Dillon Brooks 😅
“Peyton Watson… and I think I’m gonna body him up.”
(Via @NBA2KLeague & @Suns) pic.twitter.com/mcUcZsktW1
— PHNX Suns (@PHNX_Suns) August 20, 2026
Maluach appears to already understand that.
His rookie season was largely underwhelming. Maluach averaged 3.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 46 appearances while playing just 8.8 minutes per game.
But there were flashes of what the Phoenix Suns believe he can eventually become. In his first career start against the Dallas Mavericks, Maluach finished with 14 rebounds and three blocks, showing exactly why the Suns are intrigued by his defensive upside.
His growth became even more obvious in the 2026 Summer League, where he averaged 19.5 points and 12.8 rebounds per game and earned All-Summer League Second Team honors.
Now entering his second season, Maluach has the chance to turn those flashes into consistent production.
Watson’s dunk will probably stay attached to his rookie memories forever, but Maluach does not sound embarrassed by it. If anything, he seems to appreciate the lesson.
The NBA is filled with elite athletes capable of putting even the best-intentioned defenders on highlight reels. Maluach learned that immediately against Watson, but Brooks’ response says plenty about the young center.
He got put on a poster, but he is still going to jump the next time.
