South Sudan’s Khaman Maluach Makes History as Highest-Drafted NBA Academy Africa and BAL Player
South Sudan’s Khaman Maluach was selected 10th overall by the Houston Rockets in the NBA Draft at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, marking him as the highest-drafted player from NBA Academy Africa and the Basketball Africa League (BAL). As part of a trade, Maluach’s draft rights will be transferred to the Phoenix Suns.
The 7-foot, 253-pound Maluach, a former Duke freshman, averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game, contributing to Duke’s run to the 2025 NCAA Men’s Final Four. He earned accolades including 2024-25 All-ACC Honorable Mention, ACC All-Rookie Team, 2025 NCAA East Regional All-Tournament Team, and ACC All-Tournament First Team.
Maluach, born in Rumbek, South Sudan, and raised in Uganda, began playing basketball at 13 and joined NBA Academy Africa at 14. He was named MVP at the 2023 Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Africa camp and Defensive MVP at the 2024 BWB Global camp. He also played three seasons with AS Douanes in the BAL, reaching the finals in 2023. Maluach represented South Sudan at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he was the youngest participant.
BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall praised Maluach’s development and maturity, noting his achievement as a milestone for African basketball. Maluach was joined by Duke teammates Cooper Flagg (No. 1, Dallas Mavericks) and Kon Knueppel (No. 4, Charlotte Hornets) in the draft’s first round. Other players with African ties selected included Noa Essengue (Cameroon, 12th, Chicago Bulls), Thomas Sorber (Liberia, 15th, Oklahoma City Thunder), Joan Beringer (Benin, 17th, Minnesota Timberwolves), and Yanic Konan Niederhauser (Côte d’Ivoire, 30th, LA Clippers).
The 2025 NBA Draft, held over two days, saw the Dallas Mavericks secure the first pick, followed by the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, and Charlotte Hornets. Flagg, the National Player of the Year, led Duke with 19.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, while Knueppel averaged 14.4 points, shooting 40.6% from three. Other notable draft invitees included Rutgers’ Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, among others.
