Two Blue Devils in the Top 3? NBA Draft Buzz Heats Up as Philadelphia Eyes Duke’s Khaman Maluach to Join Cooper Flagg in Historic First Round Surge
DURHAM, N.C. — With the 2025 NBA Draft fast approaching, the Duke Blue Devils are once again at the center of the basketball universe. While Cooper Flagg’s position as the projected No. 1 overall pick has long been assumed, recent draft rumors suggest another Blue Devil could join him in the top three: 7-foot-2 South Sudanese center Khaman Maluach.
Reports indicate that the Philadelphia 76ers — already home to former Duke star Jared McCain — have shown increasing interest in Maluach, whose rare blend of size, athleticism, and defensive versatility has made him a rising name on many draft boards.
A Rising Stock
NBA Draft expert Rafael Barlowe recently revealed on his podcast that Maluach is “quietly gaining traction” as a serious target for Philadelphia at the No. 3 spot. Once considered a late-lottery or mid-first-round pick, the athletic big man’s stock has skyrocketed thanks to impressive pre-draft workouts and noticeable development in his offensive game — especially his emerging three-point shot.
“At 7’2” and 250 pounds, he’s one of the most naturally gifted players in the draft,” Barlowe said. “If he’s knocking down threes consistently to go along with his rim protection and ability to switch defensively, you’re talking about a generational talent.”
Duke’s Draft Legacy Grows
Flagg and Maluach would become the first Duke duo selected in the top three of the same NBA Draft, a testament to the elite talent assembled in Durham during the 2024–25 season. The Blue Devils had five starters declare for the draft, and while Flagg is expected to go to Dallas with the top pick, Maluach and sharpshooter Kon Knueppel are also projected to land in the lottery.
Knueppel, a skilled wing with elite shooting touch, has been linked to teams like the Spurs, Blazers, and Magic. But it’s Maluach who now appears poised to leap into elite company if Philadelphia makes the call.
The Embiid Question
The potential selection of Maluach raises a crucial question for the Sixers: What does this mean for Joel Embiid?
The reigning MVP is still one of the most dominant forces in the NBA, but his frequent injuries have limited Philadelphia’s postseason success. If the Sixers choose to draft a center like Maluach so high, it may signal a shift in strategy — building a roster that can thrive with or without Embiid on the floor.
Some analysts speculate that Maluach could be groomed as the eventual successor to Embiid, or at least give the Sixers more flexibility in handling the star big man’s minutes and long-term future.
A Historic Draft Night?
If both Flagg and Maluach are taken in the top three, it would mark one of the most dominant draft classes in Duke basketball history — perhaps rivaling the 1999 draft class that featured Elton Brand, Trajan Langdon, and Corey Maggette.
It also sets up a thrilling storyline for fans of the Blue Devils: Could we be witnessing the birth of the next NBA superstars, both forged under the same roof at Cameron Indoor Stadium?
For now, all eyes are on the 76ers’ front office — and the soaring stock of Khaman Maluach.
