Duke Blue Devils center Khaman Maluach has steadily been bolstering his stock for the 2025 NBA Draft. After the draft combine that was run from May 11 to 18, Maluach is now hoping he will hear his name called in this year’s draft on June 25 to 26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
According to ESPN’s latest mock of this year’s draft, Maluach is projected to be selected by coach Willie Green’s New Orleans Pelicans with the seventh overall pick in the first round. This means that Maluach could possibly join a Pelicans squad that finished the 2024-25 season with a record of 21-61, good for the 14th seed in the Western Conference, and missed out on the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
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Perhaps the most glaring trait that Maluach possesses is his size and length. The 18-year-old towers at 7-foot-2 while having a wingspan of 7-feet and 6.75 inches and a standing reach of 9-feet, 6 inches. Maluach is best known for his skills at protecting the rim and holding down the frontcourt, which can be attributed to his physical traits and intangibles.
NBA scouts could consider Maluach for their draft picks based on his defensive poise, potential as a lob threat, and athletic prowess. This is most likely why Maluach may be a lock for at least a top-seven selection. In addition, Maluach has shown he can contribute to a winning basketball team, as Duke went all the way to the Final Four of this year’s NCAA tournament.
Khaman Maluach Says That His One Year At Duke Prepared Him For The NBA Draft
In an interview with college basketball analyst Andy Katz back on June 15, Khaman Maluach was asked about his development and preparation process for the NBA with just a one-and-done college basketball campaign. For him, he feels that with the role he played for the Blue Devils, it has helped him prepare for the process of possibly getting selected in the draft.
“I feel like we had a great year at Duke. I feel like I did my role, did my job. Being able to affect the game without having the ball in my hands. I feel like I did a lot to prepare [myself] for this. The practices, the reps, the film, stuff I’m learning from coaches and teammates. I feel like that prepared me and helped me be in this position where I’m at today.”
– Khaman maluach, june 15, 2025
In his lone year of collegiate hoops, Maluach averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. In his final game with the Blue Devils in the 2025 NCAA Final Four, the Rumbek, South Sudan native dropped six points, an assist and a block in 21 minutes of playing time.
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