This is a big week for players preparing for the 2025 NBA Draft, scheduled for June 25. While the draft is still weeks away, there’s plenty of work to do beforehand.
First up is the NBA Draft Combine, which begins Sunday. The event brings together many of the top college basketball players from the past season, giving them a chance to showcase their skills.
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One of the most intriguing prospects in this year’s draft is Khaman Maluach from Duke University. A teammate of Cooper Flagg for a season, Maluach brings elite size, impressive tools, and high energy to whichever team selects him.
On Saturday, the “NBA Future Starts Now” Instagram account shared a video of Maluach being asked about his favorite NBA players.
“@khaman_maluach gonna bring that energy to the combine 🔋The 2025 @nba Draft Combine begins tomorrow, May 11th on ESPN and ESPN2 🏀”
nbafuturestartsnow, Instagramnbafuturestartsnow, Instagram
Without hesitation, he answered:
“Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo”
Duke Blue Devils center Khaman Maluach (9). Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
The 7-foot-2 center from South Sudan shares an international background with both Embiid and Antetokounmpo. Embiid hails from Cameroon, and Antetokounmpo grew up in Athens, Greece.
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Maluach chose Duke over offers from Kansas, UCLA and Kentucky. One of the factors that drew him to the Blue Devils was the legacy of former Duke star Zion Williamson. Before arriving at Duke, Maluach played for the Ugandan club City Oilers during the 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL), where he averaged 17.5 points and led the league with 13.5 rebounds per game.
At Duke, Maluach made a major impact during the team’s 39-game season, which ended with a Final Four appearance in the NCAA Tournament. In the semifinal loss to Houston, he scored six points and recorded a blocked shot. His best performances came in tournament wins over Alabama (85–65) and Arizona (100–93), where he posted 14 and 13 points, respectively.
The Blue Devils finished with an impressive 35–4 record. Maluach is one of several key contributors departing the program after Duke’s memorable run, which was guided by head coach Jon Scheyer.
According to the latest NBA mock draft, from USA Today, Maluach is projected to be selected ninth overall. If that holds, it would mean three Duke players are expected to be drafted in the Top 10, with Cooper Flagg and Jared McCain also likely to go early.
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