Phoenix Suns draft Khaman Maluach after South Sudanese visas were revoked by Trump administration

Khaman Maluach has been picked by the Pheonix Sun in the latest NBA draft on Wednesday. According to People magazine, Maluach, who was selected as the no.10 pick, is from South Sudan and had his visa revoked in April.

After his pick was announced, an emotional Khaman Maluach walked up to the stage to embrace his family, all of whom looked equally moved by his selection. He was initially selected by the Houston Rockets, along with Jalen Green, and Dillon Brooks, but was traded to Phoenix Sun in the Kevin Durant trade.

More about Khaman Maluach, as he gets drafted in the NBA

Khaman Maluach was born in Rumbek, South Sudan, and he did not start playing basketball until he was 14. He fled the country with his family due to the civil war and moved to Uganda as refugees. Soon after his selection, Khaman who according to People magazine, was projected to be a top 10 pick in this year's NBA draft, said in an interview what that moment meant to him:

"Yes, the moment met my expectations. I didn't think I was going to cry, but sometimes I let the emotions out. I was so happy. Everything was just going through my head, my whole journey and my people and the continent I represent, the continent of Africa."

Khaman Maluach, who previously played for Duke University, had his visa revoked in April, like many people from South Sudan. The decision to this effect was announced by Secretary of State, Marck Rubio, in a statement he posted on X, on April 6, 2025. Rubio wrote:

“I am taking actions to revoke all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders and to restrict any further issuance to prevent entry into the United States, effective immediately, due to the failure of South Sudan's transitional government to accept the return of its repatriated citizens in a timely manner."

In a recent interview with Whistle, Khaman Maluach talked about his childhood, and how he randomly discovered the sport of basketball that would forever change his life. He said:

"I only played soccer growing up, it was the only sport I knew until I picked up a basketball. Whenever I scored a goal, I used to do the "Siuu!" Cristiano Ronaldo's celebration. I think I was 13 when a random guy stopped by on a bike and told me to go watch a basketball camp."

He added,

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"As soon as I walked in, I saw a lot of tall people running after the basketball, dribbling, dunking, smiling, and shooting. And I thought, 'Wow, this sport must be very good.' Just because of that, I came back the next day, picked up a basketball, and decided to play."

The Kevin Durant trade, by which Khaman Maluach was roped in by the Phoenix Sun is set to go into effect on July 6, 2025.

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