Malaki Branham Thriving for Spurs Down the Stretch

Aside from number one overall pick Paolo Banchero, this year’s rookie class has been a bit of a jumble. In large part due to Chet Holmgren’s injury, the label of “second best rookie” fluctuates on a regular basis.

Many players from varying draft positions have stepped up over the course of the season to stake their claim at this title. San Antonio's Malaki Branham is the most recent young player to fit this bill.

Branham struggled to find playing time early in the season, regularly picking up DNPs. When the 20th overall pick did start to get consistent run, though, he struggled to find his stride. He played in 24 straight games spanning from the middle of December to the end of January and averaged 20.9 minutes in them. Still, the former Ohio State Buckeye merely averaged 8.3 points while shooting just 30.4% from deep.

However, since the turn of the calendar into February, Branham has been a potent offensive force. He’s notched north of 20 points in half of the ten games he’s played this month, coming out to an average of 18.1 points per game. The 19-year-old has also been scoring with excellent efficiency, shooting over 50% from the field and just under 40% from beyond the arc. Additionally, he’s been recording 2.9 assists per game.

The Spurs’ 6-foot-5 wing is simply a professional scorer. He isn’t the most explosive athlete, but his craft and skill allow him to score at all three levels. His silky handle helps him to separate from defenders and get downhill. When he can’t get all the way to the rim, Branham has elite touch on floaters and short mid-range pull-ups. He also has a great understanding of how to use his frame to create airspace and change speeds effectively. This allows him to be a stellar two-point scorer, converting 57.3% of these looks in the month of February. His shot-making ability also extends to 3-point range, where he can efficiently fire up treys in the faces of defenders.