South Sudan’s Khaman Maluach Joins NBA Team

South Sudanese Basketball Player Khaman Maluach made history on Wednesday when the Houston Rockets selected him 10th in the 2025 NBA Draft and traded him to the Phoenix Suns.

He is an incredibly successful individual.  At the age of 14, he became the youngest player ever to join an NBA program.

Maluach described his draft experience in Brooklyn, New York as one he would never forget.

Malauch, who was born in South Sudan and reared in Uganda began playing basketball when someone suggested it due of his height.

He stood 2.1 metres tall and played three years of professional basketball in Africa before attending Duke University in the United States.

Malauch was the third Blue Devil player to be named to the top 10. He said it was a memorable day at the draft in Brooklyn, New York.

Malauch described it as an emotional experience to see his teammates and fellow freshmen get drafted. He was thrilled for them since they deserved everything they have.

The 18-year-old center joins a small group of NBA Academy grads selected in the first round.