As the Blue Devils’ season comes to an end, the Blue Zone takes a final look at every player’s performance this year. We’ve already looked at Cooper Flagg and Isaiah Evans. Next up is freshman center Khaman Maluach:
Khaman Maluach
Year: Freshman
Height: 7-foot-2
Position: Center
This year’s stat line: 21.3 MPG, 8.6 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 0.5 APG
Season breakdown: As one of the last big names in the 2024 class to pick a school, Khaman Maluach entered the 2024-2025 season with sky-high expectations — and somehow managed to raise them. Whether protecting the rim or dunking a lobbed pass, the South Sudanese center showed flashes of NBA potential and made his mark as one of the nation’s most intriguing freshman big men.
Maluach scored six points in his first collegiate game against Maine Nov. 4. Four days later, the freshman achieved his first double-double against Army, securing 11 points and a near-career-high 14 rebounds.
“To find a 7-foot-2 guy that has the motor that he has ... He can guard one through five. I think he's shown that now with his switching while still protecting the rim. I think his rebounding has really progressed, and I think his offensive stuff is going to keep getting better,” head coach Jon Scheyer said Jan. 13.
And the offensive stuff quickly got better. Just a day after Scheyer hinted at his development, Maluach grabbed a career-high 15 boards in a prevailing performance against Miami. The 7-foot-2 center recorded his career-high 19 points against Notre Dame Jan. 11. Those two standout games added back-to-back double-doubles to the star’s rising resume.
With Maliq Brown sidelined for extended periods in ACC play, Maluach’s role expanded. However, during this stretch, the Blue Devils fell short in a loss at Clemson Feb. 8, where the freshman center was limited to just three points — all of which came from the free-throw line. What lacked was learned, and Maluach scored 10 and 17 points in the next two games against California and Stanford, respectively. Maluach may lack Brown's quickness and rapid reaction time, but his feeling for the game and sheer size made up for Brown’s absence.
Throughout the season, Maluach developed strong chemistry with fellow freshmen and starters Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel — both on and off the court. As the three musketeers grew into their roles on Duke’s starting lineup, their connection became increasingly evident on the court. Flagg and Knueppel often looked to the paint to feed Maluach key lobs, trusting his size and hands around the rim. Their bond created hype plays and powered the nation’s top offense.
“I would say we’ve all grown [in] different parts of the game… We’ve all developed… and we’ve all worked on our weaknesses, and we got better from game to game,” Maluach said about the trio’s growth.
During the ACC Tournament, Duke’s big man delivered one of his most consistent stretches of the season during the team’s run to the title. In the quarterfinal against Georgia Tech March 13., Maluach set the tone for a tournament run without Flagg or Brown, posting 14 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in just 24 minutes of play. The next day against North Carolina, he mirrored that performance with another 6-of-8 shooting night, 13 points and nine boards. He tied a bow on his ACC Tournament experience with 10 rebounds and eight points against Louisville. Maluach’s consistency and efficiency helped secure the Blue Devils’ ACC Tournament crown.
Maluach carried that momentum into the NCAA Tournament, starting with a perfect 5-of-5 shooting night against Mount St. Mary’s in the first round, finishing with 11 points in just 15 minutes. Against Baylor, he again shot a perfect 3-of-3 and delivered two stunning blocks. Against Arizona and Alabama, two of Duke’s toughest matchups this season, Maluach stepped up with 13 and 14 points, respectively, in the dominant wins.
Though the Blue Devils ultimately fell in the Final Four to Houston, Maluach’s only off-night in the tournament— six points, 1-of-2 from the field, and zero rebounds — didn’t overshadow the remarkable run he fueled. Man Man’s first season at Duke showcased his potential in the NBA as a reliable paint player and team-based guy.
“It's fun, and it's special, especially doing it with the guys you love… we've been through hard stuff together, and doing it with them makes [it] more fun and more special,” Maluach said.
Read more about Maluach’s season:
- vs. Army: 11 points, 10 rebounds
- vs. Incarnate Word: 17 points, seven rebounds
- at Georgia Tech: 15 points, eight rebounds
- vs. Notre Dame: 19 rebounds, 10 rebounds
- vs. Miami: 12 points, 15 rebounds
- From kid to Man Man: Maluach’s basketball development throughout the years
- vs. California: 10 points, 12 rebounds
- vs. Florida State: 14 points, 10 rebounds
- vs. Alabama: 14 points, nine rebounds
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Ariella Maroni is a Trinity first-year and a staff reporter for the news department.