Draft night brings out the nerves in most rookies, but Khaman Maluach looked completely relaxed when the Phoenix Suns put him in front of a camera. The 10th overall pick sat down for a quick interview that revealed everything from his childhood basketball hero to the motivational message that wakes him up every morning. What came through wasn’t just another rookie going through media obligations but a young man who’s already thinking about how to get better every single day.
Khaman Maluach Picks Giannis Antetokounmpo As His Favorite NBA Player
When asked about his favorite player growing up, Maluach didn’t hesitate: Giannis Antetokounmpo. The choice makes sense for a center who brings length and athleticism to the position. The interviewer then shifted to his earliest basketball memory, and Maluach laughed as he recalled, “The first time I picked up a basketball, and I took like 10 steps to lay up the ball.”
Beyond basketball, the South Sudanese rookie showed his diverse interests. He picked Hustle as his favorite basketball movie and revealed he’d been binge-watching the anime series Naruto. When the conversation turned to sneakers, Maluach mentioned he’d been wearing shoes from Devin Booker’s signature line, with the “python” colorway being his favorite.
How Does Maluach Stay Motivated Every Morning?
The most revealing moment came when the interviewer asked about his phone background. Maluach’s answer showed the mindset that got him to the NBA: “My phone background says Kaizen. It basically means getting better every day. So, I set my alarm at 6 a.m., and when I see my alarm, and I see Kaizen, I wake up in the morning knowing that I have to get better on something today.”
That drive for constant improvement connects to the best advice he’s received. Maluach credited his South Sudan teammate Marial Shayok with telling him to “Stay where your feet are.” The rookie explained that Shayok was even at the Barclays Center on draft night to support him.
Mini mic with the 10th overall pick 🎤 pic.twitter.com/KxyaxWCaB2
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 8, 2025
“He’s like an elder brother to me,” Maluach said about Shayok. “He told me to stay where your feet are. And this is like three years ago. He told me, ‘Be present, embrace everything, and don’t think too ahead of yourself, and I did that. And he was like, ‘If you do that, you’ll make it to the NBA,’ and here I am.”
The interview wrapped up with questions about his music taste and social media. Maluach listens to Burna Boy, Rod Wave, and Davido. When asked about unread text messages, the former Duke star gave an answer that showed how much his draft selection meant to people back home.
“Probably a lot because I have the continent of Africa behind me,” Maluach said. “I have a lot of friends. I have all my academy teammates, national team teammates, Duke teammates. So, I am excited to go see and reply to everybody.”
