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4 hours ago
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Cooper Flagg may be the headliner of the group of Duke stars to enter their names into the 2025 NBA Draft, but there are plenty of talented Blue Devils that are headed to the next level. Khaman Maluach is one of them.
The seven-foot center is a projected first-round pick this year after one season at Duke. With a massive wingspan and a ton of explosiveness, Maluach has the potential to become a premiere finisher and shot-blocker in the NBA.
As he heads to the next level as one of the top prospects in his class, fans will likely have to get familiar with pronouncing Maluach's name.
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Here's a guide to pronouncing Khaman Maluach, including his first and last name.
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Khaman Maluach pronunciation
Khaman is pronounced "Kah-mahn" and Maluach is pronounced "Mah-lu-watch." The Duke center made that clear in 2023, when he sounded out his name during an interview at the 2023 G League Winter Showcase. Right from the beginning of the interview, Maluach shared how to pronounce his name.
Maluach was born in Rumbek, South Sudan, then grew up in Kawempe, Uganda. He began playing basketball in 2019, attended a camp hosted by former NBA player Luol Deng, and later joined NBA Academy Africa in Saly, Senegal.
By March 2024, when he announced his commitment to Duke, Maluach was already regarded as one of the best prospects for the 2025 draft cycle, owning experience playing professional basketball in South Sudan and for the country's national team in 2023 when he was 16.
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Khaman Maluach Duke stats
Here's a look at Maluach's numbers in his one season at Duke:
| Games | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
| 39 | 21.3 | 8.6 | 6.6 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 71.2% | 25.0% | 76.6% |
As he heads to the NBA, Maluach isn't the kind of prospect whose college numbers completely jump off the page, but don't be fooled — in fairly limited minutes at Duke, he was an outstanding finisher and shot blocker.
As his hyper-efficient 71.2 percent conversion rate from the floor indicates, Maluach operated almost exclusively in the paint, scoring with ease due to his long frame. He's also athletic for his size and has been growing into his frame well. While Maluach will have room to grow as a shooter and passer, he's regarded as a high-ceiling project at center who could become an elite two-way force at the position if he pans out.
Entering the 2025 NBA Draft, many projections have Maluach landing in the top 10 of the first round, with The Sporting News' Gilbert McGregor mocking the Duke center at No. 8 overall to the Nets.
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