The San Antonio Spurs have a rich history of leveraging dominant big men to build championship-caliber teams, a strategy that defined their success in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Now, with Victor Wembanyama emerging as a cornerstone for the franchise, the Spurs seem to be looking to their past for inspiration.
On Thursday, June 5, NBA Central reported that the Spurs are showing significant interest in Khaman Maluach, the 7’2” Duke center, as a potential addition to their roster through the 2025 NBA Draft. This move could mark a revival of the “Twin Towers” approach that once brought the Spurs two NBA titles, but with a modern twist tailored for today’s game.
San Antonio Reportedly Interested in Duke Center Khaman Maluach
Khaman Maluach, Duke’s center with a reported 7’7” wingspan, has emerged as one of the most intriguing big-man prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Hailing from South Sudan, Maluach spent three seasons playing professionally in his home country before joining the NBA Academy Africa, an elite development program. He then committed to Duke for the 2024/2025 season, where he showcased his potential as a freshman.
According to NBA Central, his play has highly interested the San Antonio Spurs, a team with a history of International big men.
The San Antonio Spurs are reportedly showing interest in Khaman Maluach, per @krystenpeek
“Another buzzy name tied to the Spurs is Maluach, a 7-foot-2 center out of Duke. The Spurs could essentially be building twin towers with Wembanyama and Maluach and there is an appeal to… pic.twitter.com/6e1UzRhjUH
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 5, 2025
During his lone season with the Blue Devils, he averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game in 21.3 minutes, earning ACC All-Freshman Team honors. His performance at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine further elevated his stock, with scouts noting his impressive frame and defensive upside, per the NBA’s website.
Maluach’s scouting reports highlight his strengths and areas for growth. According to a Yahoo Sports report, on defense, he stands out as a “towering rim protector with switchable mobility,” capable of swatting shots and altering plays with his massive NBA-ready frame.
However, the report also notes that he doesn’t always rack up blocks and rebounds at an elite rate, a concern that showed up in games like Duke’s February 2025 loss to Clemson, where he struggled with box-outs and rim resistance.
Offensively, Maluach is limited outside of shots at the rim, lacking refined post moves and a consistent jump shot, though he has shown flashes of potential as a floor-spacer.
Revisiting the Spurs’ “Twin Towers” Era
The “Twin Towers” nickname traces back to the Spurs’ iconic duo of Tim Duncan and David Robinson, who played together from 1997 to 2003. As detailed in the duo’s Wikipedia article, Robinson, selected first overall in 1987, and Duncan, the top pick in 1997, formed a formidable frontcourt that dominated the NBA.
Standing at 7’1” and 6’11” respectively, the pair combined elite rim protection with versatile scoring, leading the Spurs to NBA championships in 1999 and 2003.
In the 2003 NBA Finals, their final series together, Robinson and Duncan combined for 34 points and 27 rebounds in the clinching Game 6 against the New Jersey Nets. Duncan nearly posted a quadruple-double.
This historical blueprint seems to be on the Spurs’ minds as they evaluate Maluach. Duncan and Robinson thrived in an era when post-play and paint dominance were the norm. Today, the game prioritizes versatility, floor spacing, and perimeter skills, even for centers.
Wembanyama, with his ability to shoot from deep and handle the ball like a guard, already embodies this evolution. Maluach, while less polished offensively, potentially brings the defensive foundation to complement Wemby in a similar dual-big setup.
If San Antonio can secure Maluach in the 2025 draft and help him refine his offensive game, the Wembanyama-Maluach pairing could redefine what a twin-towers lineup looks like in today’s league. Currently, the Spurs hold three picks: two in the first round (No. 2, No. 14) and one in the second round (No. 38).
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