In a moment that sent chills through the basketball world, 18-year-old Khaman Maluach stood up from his table, eyes wide, hands trembling, as NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called his name on draft night.
Born in Ethiopia and raised in a refugee camp in Uganda, Maluach’s journey to the NBA is nothing short of miraculous. Just a few years ago, he was an unknown teenager, towering over his peers but with barely any organized basketball experience. On Thursday night, he officially became one of the league’s most intriguing new prospects.
The crowd erupted. Cameras captured the raw emotion on Khaman’s face as he embraced his mother, coaches, and friends. Tears welled in his eyes as he walked to the stage, draped in his nation’s flag, representing not only himself but a generation of talent emerging from Africa.
“This means everything to me,” Maluach said in a post-draft interview. “I’ve worked so hard for this moment. To represent South Sudan and inspire kids back home—it’s a dream.”
At 7’2″, with mobility, a developing jump shot, and elite shot-blocking instincts, Maluach has drawn comparisons to Rudy Gobert and a young Serge Ibaka. But it’s his story that truly sets him apart.
Draft analysts had predicted he could go mid-to-late first round, but his selection came earlier than expected—proof that NBA scouts were sold on both his potential and his poise.
Social media lit up with reactions:
“Chills. What a moment for Khaman and for Africa.”
“That reaction was so pure. I’m rooting for this kid all the way.”
“This is why we love the draft.”
The NBA continues to expand its global reach, and Khaman Maluach is now at the forefront of that movement. A symbol of hope. A future star. And as of Thursday night, an NBA player.
