Khaman Maluach’s journey to basketball greatness is far from ordinary. Born in the conflict-ridden warzone of Rumbek, South Sudan, Mulach and his family had to flee to neighboring country Uganda for safety. There, he lived with his mother, six siblings, and other relatives. Initially, Khaman never set his eyes on basketball despite being notably tall and strong. However, because of his eye-catching stature, one day when he was walking home from school, he ran into a man who told him he would give him shoes and a ball to start playing basketball. Little did Maluach know that this encounter would blossom his basketball ambitions.
As a result, Muluach started playing in a crowded outdoor basketball court an hour away from his home. He had to play in Crocs because he didn’t own any proper basketball sneakers, yet that didn’t stop him from impressing spectators. Among them were local coaches Wal Deng and Aketch Garang and just only a year after his first dribble, he was invited to try out for NBA Academy Africa. His performance was just enough to give him a scholarship to the Academy in Senegal.
To advance his basketball skills, Khaman would partake in what he called the night shift. The night shift would be a time where Khaman and his brother would buy cheap mobile data at midnight to watch highlights of Embiid and Giannis. Khaman would take notes on how these superstars got to the basket and adopt those skills later on the court. Maluach told BBC that he “used to see Giannis’ jab step, and then with Joel I learned the shimmy. If they can make it there, I can make it there too.” Giannis and Embid inspired Khaman to hold on to his basketball dreams and stay committed to the drive to be great.
However, this was not his only motivation since while competing against top young talent at the Academy, Maluach was pushed to be his best. Due to this, he thrived there, displaying his intimidating perimeter defense and shot-blocking. Due to his unbelievable 7 ‘6 stance, Maluach averaged 4.5 blocks, 21 points, and 15.5 rebounds in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Qualifiers. His success on the court was nothing short of exceptional and was the reason why he became the MVP of the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders Africa camp.
The promising center eventually decided to play for the BAL, which is where the best players in Africa battle it out. This league has been crucial for Maluach’s development since it has exposed him to a new, more diverse competition. Players in the BAL can range from young players who want to reach their potential, just like Khaman, to older, more experienced players who can take advantage of the knowledge they have on the game. Nevertheless, as usual, Maluach shone in the BAL, being a major contributor to AS Douanes’ appearance in the final.
In March, Khaman Maluach was admitted to Duke for his freshman year. This will be a vast change of scenery for Khaman since he has primarily played competitive basketball in Africa. Maluach will be playing alongside Cooper Flagg, another top 2025 prospect, and it will be interesting to see how they will coexist on the same team as they both set their eyes on being the top pick of next year’s draft. However, Khaman is not new to various rosters, being an integral piece to South Sudan’s national basketball team.
Despite not having a single indoor basketball court, South Sudan had qualified for the Olympics. Khaman Maluach has been a great contributor to their international success, scoring valuable points in the post and having an important defensive presence. Ahead of the Olympics, South Sudan had to put up a fight against the toughest opponent of their short basketball history: the United States. The superstar-studded U.S was expected to easily cruise past South Sudan, but South Sudan tested their abilities. Maluach’s team were able to lead throughout the game and played highly competitively. However, the US was able to regroup to take the lead, ultimately being able to barely survive. As the Olympics went on, South Sudan was able to turn more heads, but their run came to an end after their loss to Serbia. Nevertheless, South Sudan’s inspirational Olympic journey is a testament to the rising potential of South Sudan’s basketball talent and the influence Khaman has to his country.
It is incredible to see Khaman Maluach’s journey to reach the top of his game. To escape the perils of war in his home country to now become the best young baller Africa has to offer shows the true grit of the 7 ‘6 star. His success on the court will be able to benefit his family, whom he hasn’t seen for 2 years, and his home country as well. Not only is his influence expanding throughout Africa, but it is now extending to the depths of the United States. At just age 17, Khaman is already making Africa proud just like Giannis and Embiid.
