“Be Delusional in Your Dreams”: The Story of Khaman Maluach

Africa’s newest NBA phenomenon, Maluach caps off an extraordinary journey from NBA Academy Africa, BAL, and Duke to the NBA.

7-Foot Dreams, big man, bigger dreams-meet Khaman Madit Maluach with five years of basketball experience becoming one of the top prospects in the world. Drafted 10th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets—via a pick acquired from Phoenix in the blockbuster Kevin Durant trade—the 7’2″ Duke center stepped onto the draft stage, tears streaming down his face, as he shook hands with Commissioner Adam Silver. That moment wasn’t just about selection; it was a powerful rewind of his journey from a refugee camp in Africa to the world’s biggest basketball platform. “I’m flashing back to the moments I had. The moments where I had to push myself. The moments where I had the wall in front of me—where will was the only way through,” Maluach reflected.

Speaking to BBC Africa, he captured the essence of his passion: “Basketball means a big thing to me. I believe it’s a gift God gave me to impact other people’s lives and to change my family’s life.” Khaman’s selection was more than a personal victory—it was a beacon for countless young players across Africa. “Khaman’s story is going to inspire men and women basketball players on the continent,” said NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum, who has played a key role in the league’s growing presence in Africa. For Maluach, that moment on stage was a culmination of faith and resilience.

In 2021, Franck Traore, then NBA Africa’s associate vice president, was sifting through a stack of scouting videos sent in from across the continent when one clip stopped him in his tracks. It featured a tall teenager playing barefoot on a dusty outdoor court in Kampala, Uganda. The boy was Khaman Maluach, just 14 years old at the time, already standing 6-foot-9—and still growing. What caught Traore’s attention wasn’t polished skill or refined technique, but something rarer: an extraordinary fluidity and athleticism for someone his size. Like many young African hopefuls, Maluach was unrefined and raw—but the potential was unmistakable. That grainy footage would become the first glimpse of a future NBA lottery pick.

Born on September 14, 2006, in Rumbek, South Sudan, Khaman Maluach’s early life was shaped by conflict and displacement. Fleeing the ravages of civil war, his family sought refuge in Uganda, eventually settling in Kawempe, a densely populated area on the outskirts of Kampala known for poverty, overcrowding, and high crime rates. Raised by his mother alongside his siblings, life in Kawempe was far from easy—and access to opportunities was limited. Yet amid the hardships, something sparked. One day, Maluach noticed kids his height—and even taller—gathering to play basketball. Curiosity turned into interest, and interest into purpose. He got his first taste of the game at a Luol Deng Foundation camp in Uganda, led by the former NBA star and South Sudan national team coach. He was just 13.

With Khaman, I see a lot of myself in him. I’ve been around a lot of players, that noise will distract and stop them from their greatness. For him, nobody’s words are gonna set up his greatness. He wants it. He knows what it takes, to achieve it. And that’s what makes him unique .” – Luol Deng

Determined to chase this dream, Maluach often walked 45 minutes to an hour just to reach the nearest basketball court. At 13, his towering frame came with another challenge—his feet. Wearing a size 13/14, finding shoes in Uganda that fit him was nearly impossible. But that didn’t stop him, teaching himself the basics of the game by studying NBA YouTube highlights on a small screen, his love for the sport deepened. His raw talent and relentless drive eventually earned him a spot at NBA Academy Africa—an elite program designed to develop the continent’s most promising young players.

It was Franck Traore who extended the life-changing invitation—an opportunity to try out for the prestigious NBA Academy Africa in Saly, Senegal, a state-of-the-art training center for the continent’s top basketball prospects. Nestled along the North Atlantic coast, Saly is a picturesque resort town, popular with French tourists, but for Maluach, it represented something far more meaningful: a chance at transformation. The idea of leaving home at such a young age wasn’t easy to accept—especially for his mother, Mary Awen. “As a South Sudanese woman, I feel blessed, and I feel proud to be Khaman’s mother,” she would later say. At the time, however, she was hesitant. Letting her son travel to another country for a dream that was still uncertain brought fear. But Khaman stood firm. “This is what I love and this is what I’ve decided to do—so let me go,” he told her. His older brother helped reassure their mother, and eventually, she let him chase the path he believed in.

When Maluach first arrived at the NBA Academy Africa, he struggled to connect with his teammates. Most of them didn’t speak English, but once he earned a roster spot, nothing—not even a language barrier—would stand in his way. “I left home at a very young age and I had a lot to learn,” he recalled. “But when I saw they had indoor courts, they gave me shoes, they had basketballs and coaches, I never looked at leaving. Even whenever stuff was tough for me outside, missing my family and stuff like that, I’m not going back—because I have what I need here.” Khaman knew he had found his sanctuary—a place where dreams were no longer distant, but tangible.

Through the NBA Academy Africa, Maluach traveled across continents, competing in youth showcases during NBA All-Star Weekends and building lifelong bonds with fellow African teenagers who shared the same dream—to one day play in American colleges, the NBA, or on international courts. His first taste of professional basketball came through the BAL Elevate Program, which assigns Academy players to teams in the Basketball Africa League—a groundbreaking NBA-run league that debuted in 2021 and now spans four African cities in a 12-team tournament. At just 15 years old, Maluach made his BAL debut with Cobra Sport of South Sudan on April 9, 2022. He later suited up for AS Douanes of Senegal, helping lead the team to the 2023 BAL Finals, and in 2024, took the court for Uganda’s City Oilers, where his game reached new heights. Averaging 17.5 points, a league-best 13.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks across six games, he dominated both ends of the floor. Named the 2023 Basketball Without Borders Africa MVP, Maluach credits the BAL as one of the most formative chapters of his journey. “Looking back,” he said, “I’m forever grateful for my time in the BAL. It made me tougher, smarter—and it showed me that I belong on the world stage.”

For Maluach, the BAL was more than a platform—it was a classroom. “It gave me a clear view on how professionals are at a very young age,” he said. “When I went back to the Academy, I came back the next year and still learned more. I’m forever grateful for the BAL, and hopefully one day, whenever I get time, I’ll go back and support the BAL and give back to everybody there.” That professional exposure sharpened his instincts, toughened his mindset, and prepared him for what came next. In the 2024–25 season, Maluach played his freshman year at Duke University, where he quickly made his presence known. With his towering frame, shot-blocking ability, and soft touch around the rim, he was named to both the ACC All-Freshman Team and the All-Tournament First Team. But even before stepping onto the college stage, Maluach had already made history. At just 16 years old, he suited up for South Sudan in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, standing tall among global veterans and playing a key role in helping his country earn its first-ever Olympic berth in 2024. It was a full-circle moment—for a kid who once learned the game from YouTube, now leading his nation into the pages of sports history.

“I want to be a Hall of Famer, that’s one of my long-term goals.” said Maluach.

Khaman helped South Sudan qualify for the Olympics for the first time and was selected as the teenager to play in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Maluach was the youngest player on the roster and became the third-youngest player ever to appear in a World Cup game. He was also named to South Sudan’s 2024 Paris Olympics team. Maluach had the opportunity to play against USA Basketball, a team stacked with NBA stars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, both in an exhibition game in London and during the Olympics. South Sudan made history by winning its first Olympic men’s basketball game in their debut, defeating Puerto Rico. Though Maluach played sparingly—scoring two points in 13 minutes over three games—the experience proved invaluable.

Maluach is the highest-drafted alumnus from NBA Academy Africa and the Basketball Africa League (BAL). He made history as the highest draft selection ever to come from these programs. His draft night brought his family to tears and was celebrated widely across Africa — a true testament to the growth of African basketball. “I just had emotions in the moment … Thank you for being delusional in your dreams. So, stay true to yourself. Never change it,” Maluach said during an interview with Andscape. From a refugee camp to becoming an NBA lottery pick, his journey has inspired many. Maluach hoped his former NBA Academy Africa teammates stayed up late in Saly, Senegal, to witness his moment. “To my brothers at the Academy, keep working hard, bro,” Maluach encouraged. “I’m so happy. You guys inspired me. I believe I’ve paved the way for all of y’all. Just keep working hard, man. Your time will come.”

As Maluach looks to the future, he remains grounded in purpose:

My long-term goal is putting Africa on the map, man. Africa has a lot of undiscovered talent and I feel like there’s a lot of kids out there and all they need is an opportunity.”