In Ohio State homecoming, Malaki Branham shows growth for Spurs
CLEVELAND – The bus waits for no rookie in the NBA, and the clock was ticking for Malaki Branham.
The problem was that the throng of family members, former coaches and general well-wishers still occupying section 110 weren’t quite ready to let the home-state star leave just yet. As someone kept calling out the time as well as the looming scheduled departure – 10:10 p.m. – there was seemingly still another selfie to take, a hug to be given or a moment to be shared.
It was a big night for the San Antonio rookie, an adopted hometown star who had only been to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse as a fan wanting to appreciate the greatness that was LeBron James until he walked through the loading dock, down the hallway and into the visitors’ locker room as an NBA player hoping to help simultaneously snap his team’s losing streak and Cleveland’s winning one.
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That wouldn’t happen. Cleveland won its seventh straight game, sending San Antonio to its 13th consecutive loss with a 117-109 final score. It’s that kind of season for both teams, but as the Spurs are committed to playing through their youth Branham has assumed a significant role.
He was the first starter announced. He finished with 18 points on 8 of 11 shooting. And afterward, he made sure to give his grandmother, Luzon, a hug before finally making his way to the locker room while still clad in his white, No. 22 jersey.
“I could hear them all night,” Branham said of his family members in attendance. “Trust me, I was trying to block them all out but it was cool, though. I was just having fun out there. They were just yelling my name. they’re just so happy I’m here.”
In another universe, Branham is a star second-year player at Ohio State. A meteoric rise during the 2022-23 season officially kicked off with a 35-point outing at Nebraska on Jan. 2 and led him all the way to the NBA, becoming the first one-and-done player for the program since D’Angelo Russell in 2015.
San Antonio took him with the 20th pick in the draft, putting him under the tutelage of legendary coach Gregg Popovich. Early returns were mixed, and Branham spent some time in the G Le/ague to get some consistent playing time. The stint lasted two games.
“I only played like two games there but it was definitely good, just getting reps, getting game reps in,” he said. “Practice is another thing, but playing the game, playing against other competition gets you ready for nights like these.”
Even as the losses have piled up, Branham has increased his production each month. Through his first seven games in February, Branham is averaging 17.3 points while shooting 46.0% from the floor and 37.8% from 3. His game looks similar to what he displayed as the Big Ten’s freshman of the year, but more physical and more polished. Early Monday night, Branham was guarded by Cleveland’s Darius Garland and took some time to settle into the game.
When he did, the repertoire was there: the smooth mid-range jumper, the ability to muscle his way to the basket, the 3-pointer worked on for hours on end with Columbus-area trainer Jason Dawson. In the eyes of Popovich, it’s been a season of steady growth for Branham.