Who Is South Sudan’s Khaman Maluach? Idolizing Joel Embiid & Anthony Davis, The 17YO Duke Star Almost Upset Team USA

The exhibition game between Team USA and South Sudan had everything that a fan would expect. The box office match-up had an exciting balling display from superstars and, importantly, a thrilling finish from the man himself, LeBron James. The Hoopers survived the Eastern African storm and produced a scary one-point win. Apart from that, there was another interesting aspect that caught everyone’s attention. It was South Sudan’s towering 7 ‘2 tall Khaman Maluach.

Stepping into this game, LeBron James & Co. came off a dominant victory over Nikola Jokic‘s Serbia. While everyone expected the team to pull off a similar win, the South Sudanese ballers made the Americans work very hard for their tight win. Former NBA player, Royal Ivey assembled a threatening roster with current and former NBA players like Carlik Jones, Marial Shayok, Wenyen Gabriel, Peter Jok, and JT Thor for the country’s first-ever Olympic appearance.

Coach Ivey didn’t miss a trick, as they kept the US side on their feet throughout the game. The team’s athletic offense fetched them a 14-point lead at the end of the first half. However, King James & Co. managed to cut down the lead in the third quarter and turned it into a neck-to-neck affair in the fourth. It all came down to the final 12 seconds when King James dropped the game-winning layup to take a 101-11 win.

Everyone in the South Sudanese team received a loud cheer of honor from the crowd after the thrilling game. However, one of those cheers will echo more often in the future. It’s that of 17-year-old Khaman Maluach. The team’s backup center dropped 7 points and 3 rebounds in his 12-minute stay. It also included an explosive dunk in the first quarter and a three-pointer over Anthony Davis.

Importantly, Maluach didn’t just grab the attention because of his tall stature but because of his prestigious future that is sure to now unfold with many more in the hoops nation paying closer attention. Before that, let’s take a look at the NBA’s 2025 top draft prospect.

Who is Khaman Maluach?

The 17-year-old baller first got the NBA world’s attention when he signed up with Duke a few months ago. The Duke Blue Devils are already considered as title favorites for the 2025 March Madness solely because of its frontcourt attack. In the upcoming season, Khaman Maluach will play alongside the USA Select Team sensation Cooper Flagg, and the duo is expected to create offensive magic at the collegiate level.

Coming back to his healthy showcase against Team USA, even though he spent only 12 minutes on the floor, Maluach got the experience of sharing the hardwood with his idols. Speaking of his golden memory, he said, “It was crazy in the beginning, especially seeing bigs I’ve been watching since I started playing basketball like Joel Embiid, AD, Bam, and the rest of the bigs, matching up with them. It was just something I couldn’t imagine in my head like they’re sitting like ‘Oh, I’m playing against these guys’.”

If not for AD and Bam, Maluach definitely has a connection with Embiid. And, it dates back to the Cameroonian’s NBA Academy days when he was 17. Joe Touomou, who molded Embiid back then at NBA Academy Africa, has played a major role in shaping up Maluach as well. Speaking of both big men, Touomou said, “[Embiid] was 17, and he was raw. Khaman at [17] is 10 times better,” in an interview with ESPN. 

Moreover, he further added, “By the time he is 20, he is going to be a very, very good player. That’s the beauty of the academy.” By the looks of Touomou’s statement, the NBA world can expect another generational talent in the coming years!

Brief History of Khaman Maluach

Maluach didn’t have an easy path before taking up basketball seriously. The rising star, along with his brothers and mother, fled from Sudan and settled in Uganda during a time of war. He picked up the basketball at the age of 13 and learned it himself by looking at Giannis Antetokounmpo on YouTube.

Fortunately, NBA scouts spotted his talent the next year and suggested him to the NBA Academy.

Maluach religiously idolized Embiid, and Kevin Durant when he was learning the art in his initial days and eventually found himself playing in BAL (Basketball Africa League) for the City Oilers, a professional team from Uganda when he turned 15. And, as the days passed, he transformed into a local star. Following that, he became the youngest to represent South Sudan in FIBA WC 2023 at 16.

The rising star equipped himself with all-round ability on the court. Starting from defense to shooting, he was rated as a five-star recruit, No.4 player, and No.1 center in the draft class of 2025. Moreover, he received offers from top colleges like UCLA, Kentucky, and Kansas, but he chose to sign up with the Duke which he had deemed a “very hard decision”.

The 7ft 2in youngster is also looking forward to playing alongside his new teammates. He had met them for the first time at the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland and couldn’t control his excitement! “It was a great experience talking to my future teammates – not only Cooper; I met Isaiah [Evans], I met Patrick [Ngongba II]. It was so nice meeting them and I was happy seeing them because they’re my teammates next year and I’m so excited,” Maluach said.

In a few days, Maluach will represent his country in the Paris Olympics and will continue to be on the weekly highlight reels after he joins the college team. Will he go on to become a generational talent in the NBA? Let us know in the comments.