Three games are in the books for Khaman Maluach as the starting center for the Phoenix Suns this season.

The Duke product began the 2026-27 regular season as the starter over Oso Ighodaro. This came as a result of Mark Williams injuring his shoulder prior to the start of training camp. 

While Maluach is continuously putting exceptional potential on display, pressure is mounting to be more consistent.

A large percentage of what is going well for Maluach rests on the defensive side of the ball.

One of the hallmark reasons behind GM Brian Gregory rolling with Maluach as the pick was due to the tantalizing output on defense in his lone season at Duke. 

This is now on full display at the NBA level. Between holding his own in single-possession scenarios against opponents such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and rapidly translating to NBA speed, it seems as if the 7-footer is adjusting quite nicely. 

This also reflects in the metrics aspect of the game. Maluach ranks in the 85th percentile when it comes to rim protection and rebounding, while placing in the 77th percentile for overall defensive impact (Crafted NBA).

There's more to the eyes than just a defensive leap as well. The former lottery pick is still raw in many aspects on the offensive side of the ball. However, his upside as a scorer and playmaker have been in practice across short bursts. This was particularly apparent in Monday night's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder when he found Jalen Green cutting to the hoop on a five-out action. 

Maluach threw a perfect bounce pass with perfect timing, resulting in a Green dunk. These are moments that provide hope in Maluach's offensive jump being imminent. 

While the flashes of offensive upside are there, consistency is a major concern. There are very much individual possessions where Maluach struggles as a screener, off-ball threat in the lane, and in displaying confidence as a shooter.

He doesn't seem ready to take on major defensive assignments including Donovan Clingan and Isaiah Hartenstein either. 

Overall, the potential to make a jump remains present, but the 20-year-old might need a longer runway than some were anticipating. 

The pressure is still mounting for Maluach to make a meaningful leap, as Ighodaro remains out for the time being. The lack of standard NBA centers on the roster places an extreme magnifying glass on Maluach's performance over the next several weeks.