Duke Basketball excels in a number of things, as one might anticipate from a school that has been at the top for several decades.
Among these is transition management. That probably made you think of Jon Scheyer replacing Mike Krzyzewski, but in this case, we’re thinking more about migrating from Duke to the NBA or, in recent times, transferring.
In a highly organized manner, Duke players announce their departure almost annually, lining up like planes on an aircraft ship.
Cooper Flagg, Tyrese Proctor, and Kon Knueppel have all declared for the NBA Draft this year, and Stanley Borden has chosen to use the transfer portal.
These declarations usually occur a few days apart, which raises the question, “What’s up with Khaman Maluach?”
We would have likely heard his choice by now in a typical year, but we are unsure if he is departing for the NBA. Are you staying at Duke?
Although it seems less likely, we wouldn’t rule out staying. So why hasn’t Maluach made his intentions clear?
Well, first, he may be uncertain about his prospects. He’s almost certainly going to be a first-round pick, but will he be a lottery pick? Or will he slide? That’s one factor to consider.
His visa status is another, more erratic factor that may deter some NBA clubs.
As you may remember, during the NCAA tournament, the authorities denied South Sudanese immigration to the United States. He finds it extremely difficult to travel since, if he departs, he is unlikely to return to the nation. Additionally, there are several types of visas, which is where our expertise is lacking.
He is presumably here on a student visa of some kind. His status would undoubtedly change if he joins the NBA, and we don’t know how that will work, what kind of visa he would apply for, or whether a green card would be the best option for him. We are not familiar with the complexities of immigration, having grown up here.
Another concern is, what would Maluach do if the Toronto Raptors selected him in the draft and he was told not to leave the country? Could he still play for U.S. teams without restriction? If not, the squandered draft selection would make Toronto furious. Presumably, he would also be unable to visit the team as a player if such were the case.
Considering all of that, it could be more sensible and easier to continue using your current visa.
But unlike the majority of those who will be recruited, Maluach has family members who had to leave their country when the war started, so as someone who will be extremely wealthy, we can be sure he will wish to support them.
We’re not entirely sure about this either, but we believe that NIL is different for overseas players, thus even while the House Settlement could be a simpler answer, he might not be able to contribute nearly as much if he continues his education.
In summary, Maluach, who looks to be as likeable a kid to come through Duke as anybody since Chris Carrawell, has a lot of moving elements. We hope that everything turns out as well as it can, but we don’t know what’s best for him.
