Khaman Maluach: The South Sudanese, raised in Uganda, and now drafted into the NBA

In the crowded streets of Kawempe, a suburb in northern Kampala, Uganda, dreams rarely make it to the world stage. But for Khaman Maluach, the journey from dusty courts and second-hand Crocs to becoming one of the NBA’s most talked-about prospects is a story of resilience, sacrifice, and raw talent that simply refused to be ignored.

Born in Rumbek, South Sudan, in 2006 during a time of war and upheaval, Khaman was only a toddler when his family fled violence and resettled in Uganda. With his father remaining in South Sudan for work, his mother took on the role of sole provider and protector, raising seven children in Kawempe with the unshakable strength found in so many African matriarchs.

It was in this vibrant but under-resourced neighbourhood that Khaman was first introduced to basketball, completely by chance. As he walked home from school, a stranger on a bike saw his height and offered him shoes and a ball if he’d try the sport. That offer changed everything.

Khaman’s first game was played in Crocs, and the court was over an hour away. But his natural gift was impossible to overlook. Local coaches Wal Deng and Aketch Garang quickly recognised the spark. “The first time I saw Khaman, I saw so much potential,” Deng later shared. “We knew he was going to be the next big thing.”

Nights were spent studying YouTube highlights of Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo, driven by a quiet belief: If they could do it, so could he. This self-education, paired with relentless discipline, paid off when Maluach was scouted by NBA Academy Africa in Dakar, Senegal. There, he refined his craft, sharpened his mind, and built the foundation that would soon carry him to Duke University and now the NBA Draft class of 2025, where he is projected to go in the top five.

At just 17, Khaman suited up for South Sudan’s national team in a pre-Olympic exhibition game against Team USA, standing tall as one of the youngest players on the court. South Sudan, still recovering from years of civil conflict, found in him more than a player—they found a symbol of hope. In a country where over 60% of the population is under 25, Maluach is proof that refugee status does not define destiny.

Now 7’2” and with the poise of a seasoned pro, he continues to play with the fire of someone who knows what it means to come from nothing—and build something extraordinary.

Though his sights are firmly set on the NBA, Maluach hasn’t forgotten where he came from. He dreams of giving back, of opening training academies in South Sudan and Uganda, and creating opportunities for children just like him—kids whose potential might be hiding behind hardship, just waiting for a chance to shine.

In a world searching for authenticity, Khaman’s journey reminds us that greatness often begins in the most unlikely places. Raised in Kawempe, drafted into the NBA, his is not just a sports story. It’s a testament to what happens when opportunity meets perseverance, when dreams defy circumstance, and when a quiet boy from the sidelines takes centre court on the global stage.

Additional extracts and quotes from different media reports