Khaman Maluach, the 7-foot-2 center from South Sudan, officially declared for the 2025 NBA Draft on Saturday night, just hours before the deadline, reported Steve Wiseman of The Charlotte Observer. Maluach, a freshman at Duke, made the decision to enter the draft despite facing uncertainty about his immigration status.
According to Maluach’s agent, Josh Hairston of KLUTCH Sports, the 18-year-old was in a waiting period after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a plan to revoke visas for individuals with South Sudanese passports.
During his freshman season at Duke, Maluach averaged 8.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. His strong performance has led to projections that place him as a lottery pick in the upcoming draft. However, his declaration came later than most, as he waited until the last possible moment to confirm his entry into the pool.
The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery is scheduled for May 12 and will determine the top picks in the draft. The teams with the highest odds of landing a lottery pick include the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets, all tied with a 14% chance to secure the top overall selection.
