“With the 10th pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Houston Rockets select Khaman Maluach,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced during the league’s highly anticipated draft night in New York.
“From Rumbek, South Sudan; the NBA Academy Africa in Senegal; and Duke University,” Silver added as the cameras cut to an emotional Maluach, who bowed his head and shook in disbelief during the ceremony Wednesday at Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets NBA team.
The 18-year-old eventually wiped his tears and stood up to loud cheers and high-fives from his close circle before walking to the stage to pick up his draft hat.
Clips of the moving scenes were swiftly shared on social media, with one fan saying: “Khaman Maluach’s reaction to being drafted is what sport is all about.”
The young player said it was a day he would “never forget” as he capped off an incredible journey from refugee camps in Africa to basketball’s highest stage.
Who Is Khaman Maluach?
Born on September 14, 2006, in Rumbek, South Sudan, Maluach moved to neighboring Uganda after a civil war erupted in his home country in 2013. In Uganda, he grew up in a refugee camp in Kawempe, on the outskirts of Kampala.
How and When Did He Start Playing Basketball?
Maluach began playing basketball relatively late, at the age of 13, when a motorcyclist stopped him on the road and offered prophetic advice. “He was like, ‘Yo, you should start playing basketball. In three to four years, you’ll be such a tall person,’” Maluach recalled in a 2023 interview with the Olympic Games website.
He began playing seriously after attending a local championship organized by South Sudanese basketball great Luol Deng in 2019. “I didn’t know basketball for a long time because of a lack of facilities [in Uganda],” he told Pro Insight in 2023. “I had to walk at least 45 minutes to go play basketball.”
How Tall Is He?
At 7-foot-2 (218 cm), Maluach stood out among boys his age in Kawempe. “When I went to Deng’s tournament, I saw guys my height and felt like I belonged on a basketball court,” he said.
Is He Going to the NBA?
Maluach realized his dream when he was picked on draft night — a prospect he once considered delusional. “I was just so happy… my family was out there with me… it was the best day of my life,” he said in tears.
His draft rights were traded to the Phoenix Suns in a deal involving Kevin Durant. Although Houston selected him, he will play for Phoenix in his rookie season.
His Journey from South Sudan to the NBA
Maluach joined NBA Academy Africa in Senegal in 2021, where he honed his skills and built his physique. “They guided me, put me in the right place at the right time,” he told ESPN before the draft.
In 2024, he moved to the United States and signed with Duke University. He made a mark during the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
What Did He Say?
He emphasized that his success could inspire other African children. “Sometimes it’s OK to be delusional about your dreams and they end up happening.”
Family Background & Representation
His parents watched the draft from Uganda. Maluach said he wanted to bring his mother to the U.S. and thanked his parents for instilling good values in him.
He represented South Sudan at the FIBA World Cup 2023 and the Paris Olympics 2024. South Sudan is currently ranked 23rd in FIBA but ranks first in Africa, credited in part to coach Royal Ivey and federation president Luol Deng.
