A leading NBA Draft analyst is praising the Duke basketball big man.
Duke one-and-done Cooper Flagg is widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, set for June 25–26. But he may not be the only Blue Devil selected in the lottery. Freshmen Khaman Maluach and Kon Knueppel are both strong candidates to hear their names early, though it’s unclear which will be drafted first.
That said, Duke’s social media team seems confident about Maluach’s stock, hinting he belongs alongside Flagg in the top three.
The hype came in response to a post from ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony, who praised Maluach’s impressive development during the pre-draft process. “Projected top-10 pick Khaman Maluach looks fantastic working out,” Givony noted, pointing out the 7-foot-2 center’s improved mobility, footwork, and touch. Duke’s account replied with a bold claim: “Top 3 pick.”
Maluach, who began playing basketball only five years ago, started all 39 games this past season for a 35-4 Duke team that reached the Final Four under head coach Jon Scheyer. He averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting an efficient 71.2% from the field and 76.6% at the line.
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