Khaman Maluach stands on the cusp of an unprecedented journey to the NBA. The 7-foot-2 center from South Sudan is a highly-touted prospect for the 2025 NBA Draft, poised to become Africa’s next breakout star in the league. Yet, his path is uniquely complicated by geopolitical factors: navigating a specific U.S. visa policy impacting South Sudanese nationals.
While his potential on the court has captured the attention of NBA scouts, Maluach’s status off the court presents a significant, albeit navigable, challenge. He is currently the only potential draftee facing hurdles tied directly to a U.S. immigration policy.
The Policy: Revocation and Restriction
The policy in question, stemming from actions taken by the Trump administration, involves the revocation of existing visas and the prevention of new visa issuances for South Sudanese passport holders. Unlike a broader travel ban that affects neighboring Sudan, this measure specifically targets visa access.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the policy, effective immediately, citing the transitional government of South Sudan’s failure to accept U.S. deportees in a “timely manner.” He stated that the government was “taking advantage of the United States” and that the policy would remain until South Sudan fully cooperates. This action places individuals like Maluach in a precarious position, requiring them to seek waivers for any future U.S. entry, even if they previously held a valid visa. Related legal challenges have surfaced, including a federal judge ruling against deporting migrants to South Sudan without proper notice, though the Supreme Court later paused that ruling, allowing deportations to third countries like South Sudan to proceed.
An Unusual NBA Draft Scenario
This creates unique complexities for Maluach and the NBA. Upon being drafted, he would typically be eligible for a professional athlete visa (like an O1 or P1 visa for individuals with “extraordinary abilities”). However, under the current policy, each entry into the U.S. would require obtaining a waiver to the South Sudan restrictions.
The situation becomes particularly intricate if Maluach is drafted by the Toronto Raptors, the NBA’s sole Canadian team. If selected by the Raptors, he would need a Canadian work visa, plus a U.S. tourism visa and the necessary waiver every time he enters the United States for road games – a frequent occurrence, typically around 19 times per season. If drafted by one of the 29 U.S.-based teams, the process is simpler, requiring the waiver primarily when traveling to play the Raptors in Toronto.
The NBA has acknowledged Maluach’s situation is more complex than that of a typical draftee but has expressed comfort with the waiver application process, drawing on its experience navigating intricate international visa issues, including those during previous Trump administration policies. The league’s increasing internationalization, with MVP winners from outside the U.S. for the past seven years, frequently places it at the forefront of global immigration challenges.
From Refugee to Elite Prospect: Maluach’s Inspiring Ascent
Maluach’s potential stardom represents a significant milestone for the NBA’s long-term investment in developing basketball talent across Africa. His journey is remarkable. Six years ago, he was a refugee from war-torn South Sudan living in Uganda, playing soccer until he grew too tall for the sport. A turning point came when he attended a camp organized by former NBA player Luol Deng and found inspiration in the story of Giannis Antetokounmpo, particularly the Disney film “Rise” chronicling his path from Greece to the NBA.
At just 14, Maluach joined the NBA Academy Africa in Senegal, a pioneering elite training center launched in 2017 to cultivate African talent. Leaving his family behind, he rapidly developed his skills, competing against professionals in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and impressing scouts at global showcases. He even represented South Sudan on its first Olympic basketball team at the 2024 Paris Games.
The NBA Academy Africa has been hugely successful, helping over 50 African players earn Division-I scholarships in the U.S. Maluach, however, is poised to be its most prominent success story yet, projected to be the first first-round draft pick to emerge from the program. As NBA Senior Vice President Troy Justice puts it, his journey uniquely connects all the dots of the NBA’s development pathway.
Navigating Bureaucracy and Staying Focused
While at Duke, Maluach was in the U.S. on a student visa, with the university providing support. However, the public announcement of the South Sudan visa policy had immediate impacts, even reportedly causing concern among Duke athletics administrators during a Final Four game. This highlights how high-level political decisions can directly affect individuals and institutions in collegiate sports.
Upon declaring for the NBA Draft, Maluach forewent his college eligibility, bypassing the complexities of maintaining a student visa but still requiring the appropriate professional visa to play in the U.S. His representatives at Klutch Sports are actively handling the visa logistics. Maluach remains focused on the game, stating he lets his advisors handle the off-court challenges.
A Broader Impact on College Sports
Maluach’s situation is a high-profile example of how shifting U.S. immigration policies under recent administrations can create significant disruption for international college athletes. The NCAA hosts nearly 25,000 international athletes from over 120 countries, making them particularly “exposed” stakeholders. Universities across the nation rely heavily on international talent, especially in sports like tennis and basketball.
Increased scrutiny on foreign students, potential travel restrictions, and uncertainty about how visa regulations interact with emerging athlete compensation models like Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) create a climate of unpredictability. Many international student-athletes have been advised against leaving the U.S. during breaks to avoid risking re-entry issues. Maluach’s case underscores how national origin can become a barrier, directly impacting the lives and careers of individuals pursuing opportunities in American sports.
A Prospect of Promise
Despite his limited experience, scouts are drawn to Maluach’s exceptional physical tools, including his 9-foot-6 standing reach and readymade rim protection skills. While his offensive game is considered a work-in-progress, his youth and rapid development potential make him a compelling top-10 or lottery prospect. As his Duke teammate and presumptive No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg remarked, there’s a discernible purity about Maluach’s intentions.
Khaman Maluach’s story is a powerful fusion of athletic ambition, a transformative developmental pathway provided by the NBA, and the complex realities of global politics and immigration. He is navigating unprecedented headwinds on his way to the league, a testament to both his resilience and the unique challenges faced by international athletes in an evolving geopolitical landscape. As he looks towards Draft night, the biggest hurdles may lie not just on the court, but in successfully clearing the path to simply get there.
