It stands to reason that if you’re 7ft 2in tall at the age of 17, you’re going to stand out in every conceivable walk of life.
In the case of Khaman Maluach, however, there’s far more to admire than simply a towering frame. In fact, he’s a precocious basketball phenomenon who recently starred for South Sudan at the 2024 Olympics, with the centre expected to be one of the most coveted players in the 2025 NBA Draft.
But just how talented is Maluach, and could he really be the NBA’s next young superstar? Let’s find out!
Starring at Home and Abroad – How Maluach Continues to Make a Name for Himself
South Sudan performed well at the Summer Games in Paris, beating Puerto Rico convincingly in Group C before recording narrow defeats against Serbia and the United States.
Maluach played with distinction during these matches, despite being the youngest player in the Sudanese squad. This followed a stellar season for the Ugandan club side the City Oilers, which began when he scored16 points and recorded eight rebounds on his debut during a 76-99 defeat to Al Ahly.
He then starred in a narrow 68–79 loss to Al-Ahly Ly, scoring a further 16 points and 19 rebounds (which is a career-high). He made seven blocks during the match too, which was a league record for any BAL game.
Over the course of the season, he averaged 17.5 points from centre, alongside a league-leading 13.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game. So, despite making just six appearances in total, he has already begun to shine and court attention from across the globe.
Will Maluach Make the Switch to the NBA?
While the 2024 Draft has come a little too soon for the talented Maluach, he’s widely expected to be among the first picks in 2025. You can bet on this nearer the time, of course, while leveraging 20bet Promo Codes to maximise your bankroll.
If he does make the switch to the iconic NBA, Maluach will complete one of the most memorable journeys in the history of the sport. After all, he and his family fled to Uganda in 2006 to escape the long-running and bitter conflict in Sudan, which ultimately saw South Sudan emerge as an independent state.
He was raised in the poor and disadvantaged town of Kawempe, where Maluach often struggled to procure trainers and basketballs to practise with. It was even tough to find the requisite time to play basketball. However, he earned encouragement and support due to his height and obvious natural ability, with local coaches Wal Deng and Aketch Garang playing a key role in his development.
Already a well-rounded player with a towering frame and appetite for learning, the sky is now the limit for the 17-year-old Maluach. In 2021, he even earned a try-out at the NBA Academy in Africa, where he continued to replicate and perfect trademark moves such as the
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s jab step.
The Bottom Line
There’s no guarantee of any player making his mark in the NBA or at the elite level of any sport.
However, Khaman Maluach already has the physique and talent to compete with basketball’s most prominent superstars (as he has proved during the Olympics), and will surely make his NBA debut in the 2025/26 campaign.
