Khaman Maluach recently wrapped up his freshman year with the Duke Blue Devils, where he made a strong impact as a top-tier recruit. He played a key role in Duke’s impressive 35-4 season, which included winning the ACC Tournament title.
Duke entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed and advanced past Mount St. Mary’s, Baylor, Arizona, and Alabama before falling to Houston. Following the season, Maluach declared for the NBA Draft, joining fellow freshmen Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel.
As Maluach looks ahead to the NBA, a new report suggests he’s being considered as a potential No. 2 overall pick. According to Hoops HQ reporter Krysten Peek, the San Antonio Spurs have shown interest in Maluach, possibly envisioning a frontcourt duo featuring him and NBA standout Victor Wembanyama.
“Another name drawing attention in connection with the Spurs is Maluach, a 7-foot-2 center out of Duke,” Peek said. “The idea of creating a ‘twin towers’ setup with Wembanyama is appealing, and Maluach presents a promising young big man who could grow alongside him.”
Peek also noted that while it would be unexpected for the Spurs to use their No. 2 pick on Maluach, they might consider trading down or bundling their No. 14 pick to draft him later in the lottery.
Maluach’s skill set offers significant versatility, which could benefit a franchise like San Antonio that has struggled in recent playoff runs.
During his season at Duke, Maluach averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game. On defense, he contributed 1.3 blocks and 0.2 steals per game.
The 2025 NBA Draft will begin at 8 p.m. ET on June 25, with the first round airing on ABC and ESPN.