Khaman Maluach and an almost unreal story of overcoming obstacles: he was a war refugee, discovered on the street, and now he's one of the NBA's newest stars.

Khaman Maluach didn't grow up with an orange ball in his hands or practicing three-point shots. As a kid, he played soccer and dreamed of one day reaching the Premier League , England's top flight. He was 13 years old when he first stepped onto a basketball court after a random stranger on the street suggested he try the sport to take advantage of his height, and he immediately felt like he'd found his niche. What followed were nearly six years of accelerated growth and exciting new experiences that took him fast track to the very top of the sport: the NBA .

The 18-year-old South Sudanese was one of 30 players selected in the first round of the 2025 Draft . Selected 10th by Houston , a trade agreed between the Rockets and Phoenix , which will only be made official on July 6, will see him make his debut in the most competitive league in the world with the Suns jersey.

"This is a very special day for me, one I'll never forget. I was so happy to have my family, my agent, and my coach by my side. Sharing that moment with them meant everything to me," she said, her eyes moist. "I didn't think I was going to cry, but sometimes I let my emotions out, and I felt so happy... Everything was going through my head: my entire journey, my people, and the continent I represent—Africa."

Maluach was born on September 14, 2006, in Rumbek, a small town in central South Sudan , but grew up as a refugee in Kawempe, Uganda , after fleeing his country with his mother and siblings. In 2019, while walking along a road, a motorcycle-taxi driver encouraged him to try basketball, amazed by his imposing physique: 2.18 meters tall and with an arm reach of 2.95 (slightly larger than that of Frenchman Victor Wembanyama , star of the Spurs).

Khaman Maluach is selected 10th overall by the @HoustonRockets in the 2025 #NBADraft presented by State Farm!

Watch on ABC & ESPN. pic.twitter.com/jI2pHawX0O

— NBA (@NBA) June 26, 2025

That suggestion sparked his curiosity, and he eventually signed up for a training camp led by two-time NBA All-Star Luol Deng , a former player also from South Sudan.

"I went to try out and felt really good because I didn't usually see so many guys my size everywhere. I felt like I belonged there," he said a year ago in an interview with the NBA Academy , which he joined in 2023.

His experience in the American league's development program in Senegal changed his mind. "There, I discovered my potential as a player, and the NBA dream began to take shape. No matter how long it took, I told myself that one day I would be drafted," said the man who describes himself as a person who talks a lot and always smiles.

"I know my strengths are rebounding, blocking, and defense. And I have to improve a lot on my shooting. But I hope everyone sees that I work hard," he said at the time. "I don't look at social media much, I don't pay much attention to outside expectations. And I don't have big goals yet. I just want to focus on getting better and better."

On Wednesday, his former teammates were closely following what was happening in New York, and when they heard Khaman's name, they celebrated the achievement as their own.

Kids from the #NBA Academy Africa in Saly, Senegal watch their former teammate Khaman Maluach get drafted 10th overall to make history. #nbadraft https://t.co/gtPrtNOC61 pic.twitter.com/JxjOX6Yfal

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) June 26, 2025

His rapid development opened the doors for him to the South Sudan national team, which he joined at just 16 years old to compete in the World Cup in Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines . Maluach's team was the highest-placed African team in the final standings (17th) and qualified for the Paris Olympics . And in the French capital, the center, at 17, was the youngest player in the men's tournament.

A few months before his Olympic debut, the South Sudanese player—who had already played for three professional African teams—signed his way into U.S. college basketball, joining Duke University on a full scholarship. In his only season, he averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. His physique and defensive skills immediately caught the attention of talent scouts. His name began to be mentioned as a favorite for the first round of the draft.

"Khaman is one of the best freshmen I've seen in terms of physicality and body control. He's naturally aggressive, thrives on contact, and has grown significantly defensively and in his understanding of the game. His versatility and intelligence in that area often go unnoticed, but it's truly impressive," Duke coach Jon Scheyer said.

Elite rim protection coming to the Valley 🏜️ @khaman_maluach x @Suns pic.twitter.com/5Mxc5GKLmI

— NBA Draft (@NBADraft) June 26, 2025

With Giannis Antetokounmpo as his inspiration—"His story, coming from Greece and then coming to the United States, really motivates me," he said—and eager to take advantage of his opportunity to change the lives of his mother and siblings and inspire other players in his country, Maluach will now fulfill his dream of playing in the best basketball league in the world.

"I always believed in myself. My dream was a dream, but stronger than anything else. And this proves that you can succeed no matter where you come from," he reflected. "Now I can't wait to wear a Phoenix jersey with my name on it, walk out on the court, and play for the Suns."

Fulfilling expectations, the Dallas Mavericks selected Cooper Flagg with the number one pick in the Draft, a gem destined to fill the spot left by Luka Doncic . The 18-year-old Duke star was the first of 30 names to be distributed among the teams at the start of the ceremony in New York.

"It's surreal. It's like a nebula in this place, but I feel very fortunate and honored to be here," Flagg said as soon as he put on his Mavs cap.

Cooper Flagg is selected 1st overall by the @dallasmavs in the 2025 #NBADraft presented by State Farm!

Watch on ABC & ESPN. pic.twitter.com/mY7n1IM8Oo

— NBA (@NBA) June 26, 2025

Unanimously voted the season's best college player, the power forward averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game for the Blue Devils , who reached the semifinals of the national tournament. He is the second-youngest player ever to be selected first overall in the draft, surpassed by just eight days by LeBron James when he landed in Cleveland in 2003.

After Duke's gem, San Antonio also lived up to expectations and selected Rutgers point guard Dylan Harper at number two to bolster its young core around Wembanyama. And third, Philadelphia opted for Bahamian guard VJ Edgecombe (Baylor).

The other first-round picks were: Kon Knueppel (4th, Charlotte), Ace Bailey (5th, Utah), Tre Johnson (6th, Washington), Jeremiah Fears (7th, New Orleans), Egor Demin (8th, Brooklyn), Collin Murray-Boyles (9th, Toronto), Cedric Coward (11th, Portland), Noa Essengue (12th, Chicago), Derik Queen (13th, Atlanta), Carter Bryant (14th, San Antonio), Thomas Sorber (15th, Oklahoma), Yang Hansen (16th, Memphis), Joan Beringer (17th, Minnesota), Walter Clayton Jr. (18th, New York), Nolan Traoré (19th, Brooklyn), Kasparas Jakucionis (20th, Miami), Will Riley (21st, Utah), Drake Powell (22nd, Atlanta), Asa Newell (23rd, New Orleans), Nique Clifford (24th, Oklahoma), Jase Richardson (25th, Orlando), Israelis Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf (26th and 27th, Brooklyn), Spaniard Hugo González (28th, Boston), Liam McNeeley (29th, Phoenix) and Swiss Yanic Konan Niederhauser (30th, Los Angeles Clippers).

The second round was held last night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.