Khaman Maluach

Maluach is a South Sudanese center who entered the NBA as a lottery pick in 2025 after a single season at Duke and a remarkable rise from a refugee camp in Uganda to one of the most intriguing international prospects in recent years. He has played for the Phoenix Suns after being traded from Houston.

Born Khaman Madit Maluach on September 14, 2006, in Rumbek, Sudan (now South Sudan), he grew up in Kawempe, Uganda, as a refugee with his siblings and mother. In 2019, a boda boda motorcyclist encouraged him to try basketball after seeing his height. He attended a local camp organized by Luol Deng and later joined the NBA Academy Africa in Saly, Senegal.

Maluach played for Cobra Sport in the 2022 Basketball Africa League season as part of the BAL Elevate program. In March 2023, he played for AS Douanes in the BAL and reached the final. He attended the 2023 Basketball Without Borders in Johannesburg and was named camp MVP. On March 6, 2024, he committed to Duke, choosing the Blue Devils over UCLA, Kentucky, and Kansas. He averaged 8.6 points on 71.2 percent shooting, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game as a freshman.

The Houston Rockets selected Maluach with the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft and traded him to the Phoenix Suns as part of the Kevin Durant deal. He became the highest-drafted player ever from the NBA Academy Africa.

Maluach is a mobile center with elite size, shot-blocking instincts, and finishing ability around the rim. He scores on lobs, putbacks, and short rolls, and he uses his length to protect the paint. His offensive game is still developing, but his physical tools and rapid improvement make him a valuable developmental big.

Maluach begins his NBA career as a young center with lottery-pick pedigree and a unique developmental trajectory. His rise from a refugee camp in Uganda to a Duke freshman and a top-ten draft pick reflects extraordinary physical tools and a rapid learning curve that teams continue to monitor.