Khaman Maluach: From South Sudanese refugee to NBA dream
South Sudan’s Khaman Maluach, selected 10th overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2025 NBA Draft, completed an extraordinary journey from war-torn refugee to basketball stardom. The 18-year-old center (7’2″, 250 lbs) only picked up a basketball at age 13 in Uganda after a motorcycle taxi driver encouraged him to try the sport.
His rapid rise included training at the NBA Academy Africa in Senegal, starring in the Basketball Africa League, and a standout season at Duke University. “This was my biggest dream,” an emotional Maluach said after being drafted. “I carry Africa on my back I want to inspire the next generation.”
Maluach became the third Duke player selected in the first round, following No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg.
The Suns bolstered their center rotation by acquiring Mark Williams in a separate draft-night trade.
As the NBA’s latest African success story, Maluach joins a growing contingent of players from the continent making their mark in the league.
His selection continues the pipeline developed through the NBA’s African academies and the BAL.
