Khaman Maluach’s freakish tools make him a top-five prospect

Freakish physical tools, rare defensive capabilities, and elite rim production make Duke’ Khaman Maluach a fascinating prospect.

Before the 2025 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at Nos. 3 and 35. Next up in this series is Duke’s Khaman Maluach.

Even while playing alongside fellow stars and lottery picks in Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, it was hard to watch a Duke game and not have Khaman Maluach jump off the screen. Freakish physical tools, coupled with excellent mobility, and outlier production as a rim finisher, all while being new to the sport after picking up the game just four years ago, make Maluach a fascinating prospect with tremendous upside.

Profile

Stats (PER 40 Min):

16.2 PPG

12.4 REB

2.5 BLK

71.2% FG

73.6 TS%

76.6% FT

Team: Duke

Year: Freshman

Position: Center

Height: 7’2

Weight: 253 lbs

Wingspan: 7’6 3/4

Born: September 14, 2006 (18 years old)

Hometown: Rumbek, South Sudan

Strengths

Defense

Maluach is an elite defensive prospect. His size, length, timing and ability to get off the floor make him an outstanding rim protector. His mobility and feel make him an outstanding and versatile pick-and-roll defender, capable at times of hanging with guards’ step for step, and has elite ground coverage ability to recover and contest shots at the rim. Maluach has all the makings of a future All-NBA defender who projects to be able to anchor a defense at the NBA level.

Rim Finishing

Maluach is an elite play finisher both as a roller in pick-and-roll situations or in the dunker spot. He’s an elite lob threat with soft hands and a tremendous catch radius. Maluach also displays feathery touch on short jump hooks, push shots, and layups as well. He was one of the most efficient big men in college basketball history. He finished 77.6% on attempts at the rim, per Synergy. Maluach was 99th percentile scoring as a roller in pick-and-roll averaging 1.76 points per possession on such plays. Maluach has an excellent understanding of spacing and feel for when to circle or drop for dump offs and when to lift to create space for drives. He’s an excellent roller who knows when to explode out of screens or when to wait a split second or two before diving to the rim.

Rebounding

Despite the zero-rebound performance against Houston in the Final Four, Maluach was an excellent rebounder on both the offensive and defensive glass for Duke in his lone season as a Blue Devil. Maluach had a 16.5 OREB% which led the ACC and a 19.2 DREB%, good for an 18.0 TRB% which is a very good number — especially for a freshman and especially for an 18-year-old freshman in a power conference. Maluach displays a high-end motor and a want to in his pursuit of rebounds. That coupled with his monstrous physical tools and soft hands make him a force on the glass of both ends.

Shooting Potential

Maluach has natural touch as evidenced by his free throw shooting and elite rim touch and finishing, but he also has flashed the ability both at Duke and in international play with South Sudan to step out and knockdown jump shots from both three and the midrange. Shooting isn’t at this time a true strength or threat in his game, but I would not be surprised if it became a respectable part of his game very quickly. If he becomes a legitimate shooting threat with true stretch and face up ability, we are talking about a true two-way unicorn.

Weaknesses

Physical Strength

Maluach at this stage lacks some in the strength department. At times, he can be bumped off his spots or pushed out on post ups and can be dislodged by stronger and older post players. I don’t foresee this being much of an issue down the line. Maluach is just 18 years old and has a very solid frame. A year of two in an NBA strength and conditioning program should mitigate any current strength disadvantages.

Raw

Maluach is still very new to the game, and it shows up at times in his play, especially on the offensive end. There are times when Maluach gets off balance and can appear a bit awkward putting the ball on the floor. There will be some growing pains with some of his ball skills as a face up guy and in situations that he’s asked to handle the ball or make a read. Maluach has flashed a bit as a short roll playmaker and passer out of the post displaying advanced feel for a guy that just recently started playing the game.

Draft Projection

SB Nation Mock Draft: No. 5, Utah Jazz

Maluach has very clear and promising translatable skills to go along with outlier physical tools, making him one of the rarest types of prospects in recent memory. His mobility and flashes as shooter and face up player that give him one of the highest upsides in this class and a chance to be a truly special two-way force for a long time as a pro. Maluach’s floor with his defensive tools and elite play finishing ability make him a safe pick while his tantalizing potential and room to grow put him firmly as a top-five overall prospect in this class. Any team that selects him can feel that they are taking a swing on a potential star.