Yang Hansen's close friend is dominating the Summer League.

A simple "Safe travels, Yang Hansen," paired with an innocent smile, made many fans remember Marouach, the big man from South Sudan, before last year's draft. Although their final draft positions were only six picks apart, their pre-draft expectations couldn't have been more different.

Marouach was always considered the top big man in last year's draft, while Yang Hansen carried more uncertainty and possibility. It was expected that the Suns would select Marouach with the 10th pick, but Yang Hansen being chosen 16th was a complete surprise.

However, neither of these good friends had an easy time last season. Although Yang Hansen played 43 games, he averaged only 7 minutes per game, mostly in garbage time. He had few opportunities for real competition, and his average stats were hardly meaningful.

Marouach played 46 games last season, but he barely saw the court in the first half. Only in the latter part of the season did he gradually enter the rotation. His playing time was the lowest among the top ten picks, averaging just 8.9 minutes per game with 3 points and 2.9 rebounds.

Both young centers are developmental assets for their teams and need time to grow. But clearly, Marouach's situation with the Suns is much better than Yang Hansen's with the Trail Blazers. In the latter part of last season, the Suns traded away Richard to give Marouach more playing time to develop, while the Trail Blazers not only kept Williams but also re-signed him this summer and added two stretch bigs to put pressure on Yang Hansen.

In the Summer League, Yang Hansen faced off against Marouach in his first game. The two good friends really went at each other on the court. Both started off a bit rough but gradually found their rhythm. Marouach finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Yang Hansen had 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists. Together, they made five three-pointers.

After the game, Marouach said, "Going against Yang Hansen brings out a competitive spirit in both of us. We trained together before the draft, and it's great to face him on the professional stage now. I think he has improved a lot since our last meeting, and he's full of confidence."

Yang Hansen has certainly improved, whether in his on-court speed or physical conditioning. In the second game, you could see his composure on the floor. But Marouach's progress has been even greater—he's already able to dominate at this level.

Today, the Suns defeated the Pistons, with Marouach putting on an impressive performance. He was effective both inside and outside, dominating the boards. In 28 minutes, he shot 8-of-13 from the field, 2-of-5 from three, and 4-of-9 from the free-throw line, finishing with 23 points, 15 rebounds (6 offensive), and a plus-minus of +14.

Over four Summer League games, Marouach averaged 27.4 minutes per game, posting 19.5 points, 12.8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1.3 steals, and 2 blocks. He shot 53.2% from the field, 40% from three, and 68.4% from the free-throw line.

The biggest improvement for Marouach is his physicality. He's clearly bulked up a lot compared to last season, with excellent results from adding muscle. He can now finish through contact in the paint without losing form. When boxing out for rebounds, he easily uses his long wingspan to grab boards and convert second-chance opportunities, showing great offensive confidence.

Last season, his lower-body and upper-body strength were insufficient, causing him to struggle with positioning and rebounding. After hard training, his overall strength has improved, and combined with his physical advantages, he's playing better and better in the paint.

What's surprising is that he seems to have genuinely developed a three-point shot. In college and his rookie season, he could shoot threes, but the volume was too low. Over the four Summer League games, Marouach has shown solid three-point ability with increased volume.

He is a truly talented center, with the ideal frame for a blue-collar big man in terms of height, wingspan, and athleticism. Don't forget that he only started playing basketball seriously at age 13, and by 16, he was already representing South Sudan at the World Cup, becoming the third-youngest player in tournament history.

Interestingly, the 16-year-old Marouach faced the Chinese men's national team at that World Cup. In that game, he played 17 minutes, recording 1 point, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks, with a plus-minus of +20. At the same time, Yang Hansen was participating in the U19 World Cup.

There's no doubt that Marouach will be a key part of the Suns' rotation next season. Given Williams' injury history, he will often be the team's first-choice center, and he is bound to experience a transformative leap next year. Hopefully, Yang Hansen won't fall too far behind his good friend, and the two can compete against each other in real regular-season games.