Khaman Maluach Inspires 1.5 Billion Africans With Emotional Draft Interview

Khaman Maluach nailed his televised interview after receiving his hat from NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

Khaman Maluach Inspires 1.5 Billion Africans With Emotional Draft Interview

Khaman Maluach, Cooper Flagg at Duke (Imagn)

Making it to the NBA is a dream that nearly every kid who’s ever pursued basketball has had. But it is not a journey meant for the light or faint of heart. Getting to the level of proficiency that allows you to be a top 450 player in the world’s second biggest sport by the age of 19-21 requires sacrifices and dedication that ordinary human beings don’t have. But ordinary human beings aren’t quite built like Khaman Maluach.

Born in the war-torn province of South Sudan, Maluach did not start playing basketball till he was 13 years old. By the time he was 16, he was getting calls from Luol Deng and the South Sudan national team program. The youngster also played in the Basketball Africa League at that age in 2022. His 7’2″ frame and elite mobility sold him in the eyes of NBA draft scouts, who’ve followed him since his younger years.

Maluach was put on the fast track to stardom after that, but this meant leaving his home country for stranger shores. Recruited by Duke to play alongside Cooper Flagg, Maluach also played for South Sudan at the Paris Olympics. He lit up the NCAA basketball scene and earned his way to a top-10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. But for him, the work begins now, and it is earnest work that he’s tasked himself with.

Speaking to ESPN after getting his name called by commissioner Adam Silver, Maluach had some moving words for his fans from back home:

(Being drafted) included me being delusional about my dreams. Believing in myself that I’m gonna make it to the NBA one day. And now, I’m here in the NBA, just got drafted…I’m here representing the whole continent. Living in Africa, I had the whole continent on my back. Giving hopes to young kids, inspiring young kids, the next generation of African basketball.

A glance at his career thus far shows that Khaman Maluach is always about walking the walk, not just talking the talk.

Khaman Maluach could revitalize the Phoenix Suns even as a rookie

One of the most glaring holes in the Phoenix Suns’ roster over the past two seasons was at the 5 spot. In the 2023 playoffs, Deandre Ayton was unable to impact the game as expected of a max contract guy. But since moving on from their former No. 1 pick, the Suns have gone from weakness to weakness at center. Jusuf Nurkic, Mason Plumlee and Bol Bol all flattered to deceive and were unable to make an impact.

This led to the playmaking skills of Devin Booker going massively underutilized. Booker has grown leaps and bounds as a point man since being drafted 10 years ago. But the Kentucky product was unable to be as effective alongside Nurkic and Plumlee, who are two of the least athletic NBA centers. The lack of vertical spacing for the Suns, as well as their defensive frailty in the paint, was a big minus for the team.

But we can expect Khaman Maluach to be the vertical spacer that many wanted Ayton to become. At just 19 years of age, Maluach is the bounciest he’ll ever be, and he’s also shown a great understanding of PnR play. Devin Booker and the other Suns guards will also be able to rely on his 18-foot jumper from the elbow region, which was a reliable weapon for him during his sole year with the Duke Blue Devils.

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