2025 NBA Draft Scouting Report for Phoenix Suns No. 10 Pick Khaman Maluach
The Phoenix Suns have selected Khaman Maluach with the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NBA draft.
Maluach earned ACC All-Freshman honors at Duke in 2025, holding his own physically and athletically despite being one of the youngest players in the country.
Before arriving in Durham, Maluach led the Basketball Africa League in rebounding and was named MVP of the 2023 Basketball Without Borders camp, building a strong international résumé before his college debut.
The 18-year-old passes the eye test with his 7'1" size and combine-best 7'6¾" wingspan, giving him natural advantages as a finisher and rim protector. Few bigs his age cover ground or move as fluidly.
Maluach finishes with ease around the basket, often off cuts, putbacks and rolls, and he has shown flashes of pick-and-pop range in pre-Duke tape and pro-day workouts.
While mostly limited to the paint in college, his outside shot could eventually stretch to the arc.
Maluach, however, doesn't offer much as a creator or post scorer and didn't post the shot-blocking numbers expected for someone with his defensive tools. He also wasn't a playmaker out of the short roll or someone who consistently found open teammates.
Still, his physical profile and upward-trending skill set fit the direction of today's NBA centers. If the jumper becomes consistent and his feel sharpens, he could straddle the line between vertical rim weapon and stretch big.
Maluach ranks No. 15 on B/R NBA draft expert Jonathan Wasserman's 2025 Prospect Big Board.
Essential Facts and Stats
College Duke | Position: C | Height: 7'1" | Weight: 253 lbs |Age: 18 Vertical: 30 | Wingspan: 7′6¾″ | PPG: 8.6 | RPG: 6.6 | APG: 0.5 | BPG: 1.3 | SPG: 0.2 | FG%: 71.2
Realistic Pro Comparison: Dereck Lively II
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Maluach and Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II share similar measurements and roles.
Both are excellent lob catchers and finishers, and both look capable of eventually developing a three-ball.
Neither center projects as a perennial All-Star, but they can both be primary contributors at their position on a competitive team.
Strengths
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Athleticism/Tools: Maluach's incredible 7'1" size, 7'6¾" wingspan and movement are highly effective and translatable for finishing and covering ground defensively.
Finishing: He's an easy-basket machine around the rim, particularly in lob and second-chance situations.
Shotmaking Potential: Despite rarely shooting outside the paint at Duke, NBA Global Academy and workout tape shows a capable outside shot.
Weaknesses
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Creation: Maluach isn't much of a ball-handler or post scorer. He can raise his NBA ceiling by expanding his bag a bit in this area.
Shot-Blocking: Despite outstanding defensive tools, he did not block shots at the same rate as most 7-foot first-round-projected bigs.
Passing: With just 4.3 assist percentage, Maluach wasn't a useful short-roll passer or big who'd look for open shooters. He's effective when plays are run for him, but not as a playmaking hub.
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