Khaman Maluach cries tears of joy after being drafted 10th overall in 2025 NBA Draft by Suns
While all the hype for Thursday’s NBA draft centred around the shoe-in first overall pick, it was the 10th pick that stole the show.
There was no doubt in anyone’s mind as to whose name commissioner Adam Silver was going to call for the first pick of the draft — with 18-year-old Cooper Flagg from Duke selected by the Dallas Mavericks.
However, Flagg wasn’t the headline to come out of the draft, with a few interesting storylines trickling down the first crop of selections — including the obstinate Ace Bailey going to his unwanted club of the Utah Jazz.
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The moment that made headlines and tugged on viewers heartstrings came with the 10th selection when the Pheonix Suns, via the Houston Rockets, selected South Sudanese product Khaman Maluach.
When Silver announced the pick, the 7in 2ft 18-year-old broke down into tears and was embraced by his family — leaving those watching reaching for the tissues.
As he walked up on stage to be presented his hat, the new Sun could be seen wiping away tears, showing how much the moment meant to him.
Born in South Sudan, Maluach was raised as a refugee in Kawempe and didn’t start playing basketball until he was 13.
Just five years later the tall timber is now in the big league.
The draftee couldn’t contain his emotions after being selected.
“The moment exceeded my expectations,” Maluach said on the ESPN broadcast.
“This is one of the best days of my life. I didn’t think I was going to cry, but I did.
“I’m excited to put on a Suns jersey with my name on the back and step on the floor.”
Muluach is one of just five players to be taken in the first round that have come from the NBA Academy, joining Australian’s Josh Giddey (2021, pick six) and Dyson Daniels (2022, pick eight).
“The NBA Academy opened my eyes and showed me my full potential on what I needed to do to be successful,” Maluach said.
“It was hard being a 14-year-old and going to another country but going to the academy I learned different cultures and languages and how other people live. It also taught me the game of basketball.
“I want to show them the great parts and culture, and change the narrative on how they see my continent.”
The Suns looked like they had won the draft after Maluach fell to them at pick 10, which they acquired from the Kevin Durant trade, with the academy product being rated as the top centre in the draft.
However, they followed up the great pick with a head scratching trade — sending the 29th pick in the draft to Charlotte for centre Mark Williams, a surprise considering the capital they had just invested in Maluach.
The draft continues with round two starting tomorrow, with a crop of Aussie’s looking to be the latest from Down Under to join the association.
The Australian prospects that will be waiting by the phone include Sydney Kings’ Alex Toohey, Brisbane Bullets’ Rocco Zikarsky, Duke’s Tyrese Proctor and Illawarra Hawks’ Lachlan Olbrich.
